WHAT weaknesses in the candidates emerged from the Channel 4 debate on the leadership for the leadership of the Tory Party?

Michael Gove's self-satisfaction with his own record could contribute to his undoing where more humility would have been advisable.

Dominic Raab closed the door on his future with his retention of the threat to close the Houses of Parliament to secure Brexit.

Jeremy Hunt's caricature of what Jeremy Corbyn could do to the UK sounded hollow and rendered him as a dubious candidate for PM.

What may well make the headlines for Sajid Javid is his echo of Buzz Lightyear's iconic phrase "To Brexit and beyond".

Rory Stewart's contemplation of including in his negotiating team a man who has never won a Westminster seat was the weakest point of the whole debate.

Of all the candidates appearing on the C4 platform, Mr Stewart's humility and honesty edged it for me.

Boris Johnson's no-show did him no favours, though maybe he believes keeping his powder dry until Tuesday while the other five knocked six bells out of one another would redound to his advantage as a fresh voice.

It may well be taken as a sign of his contempt or cowardice to body-swerve Channel 4's debate.

Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs.

I HAPPENED to watch a rerun of David Frost interviewing Margaret Thatcher, during which it transpired that she knew not that she was known as TBW, or That Bloody Woman. I am not a proponent of Boris Johnson, but judging by some of the comments made by correspondents (Letters, June 15), we may soon have a Prime Minister known as TBM.

David Miller, Milngavie.

MARTIN Redfern (Letters, June 15) shows little knowledge of how the post of First Minister is filled; a gentle reminder of how this comes about may, therefore, be worthwhile. On November 19, 2014, Alex Salmond formally resigned as First Minister of Scotland and the election for the new First Minister took place the following day. Nicola Sturgeon and Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, stood for election. Nicola Sturgeon received 66 votes, Ruth Davidson received 15 and there were 39 abstentions. Nicola Sturgeon was, therefore, elected to the post of First Minister by the entire Parliament.Andrew J Beck, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

THERE has been much criticism in certain sections of the press concerning the iniquitous tax levels in Scotland and the Westminster subsidies provided to our service personnel to compensate them. I note however that , while the average Band D Council Tax levied south of the border is £1,750, in Scotland the same band average is £1,250. This represents a saving of £500, excluding other benefits such as free prescriptions and no tuition fees for those attending universities here. Of course, those facts are not to be mentioned by the press barons in the south. Please don’t pass this on to Westminster.

J W Frame, RAF (long retired), Bearsden.