THE Scottish Parliament as the democratically-elected representative of the Scottish people has voted in favour of seeking a section 30 order, to facilitate a second independence referendum being held at some point in the future. This position is legal, democratic and factual. Whether the section 30 order is granted or not in the future is not part of this discussion.

Ruth Davidson is in her current position thanks to the existence of the Scottish Parliament, something the Tories were not originally in favour of, otherwise it is unlikely she would have a stage here in Scotland. Her claims to be a democrat wear thin when one considers her General Election campaign to date is based almost exclusively on thwarting the democratic will of the very parliament to which she has been elected, by asking people to vote Tory in order to stop the will of the parliament being implemented. Not much democracy evident here.

Assuming the Tories might gain some seats at the expense of the SNP, Ms Davidson should explain how in any way this would enable the Scottish Parliament’s decision and democratic will to be overturned and if she is unable to do this, why are the Scottish Tories presenting a false prospectus to the electorate?

People who have previously voted SNP but not being independence-minded, may well be fearful that voting again for the SNP means independence; well that’s the line the Tories and Scottish Labour are pushing. If every single voter in Scotland voted SNP, it would change nothing. Independence can only come about if the people vote for it in a referendum and this is a General Election, not a referendum. However, electing a few “toeing the line” Scottish Tories to the packed Westminster benches in what looks like an already unassailable Tory majority in England, will do absolutely nothing for Scotland. Time to obsess about something else. Anyone have any policies?

Alan M Morris,

20 Kirkhouse Road, Blanefield, Glasgow.

THIS is a fervent appeal to those who are considering voting for a Conservative government. It would appear to an old codger like me that the population's brains are becoming addled by some virus. People who have voted Labour for ever and a day are actually considering voting Tory. What is happening? Even if you detest Jeremy Corbyn, a strategic vote for Labour will at least reduce the Conservative majority.

We know he's got no chance of being Prime Minister, the right-wing press and the markets will see to that. However, a Labour, Liberal Democrat or an SNP vote will possibly prevent the Tories unleashing Full Monty pro-business policies. Even if you dislike the idea of an independence referendum, voting SNP is surely preferable to a Tory vote.

Unfortunately, we have a feisty and competent Tory leader in Ruth Davidson, who seems to have convinced many that the Conservatives are the party for all. The good Scottish phrase “aye right” springs to mind. Just remember, it wasn't the Tories who gave us the NHS or most of the social services we take for granted. Why should we believe Ruth Davidson or Theresa May now?

Ian Smith,

111 Dutch House, Kilmarnock Road, Monkton.

ON a day when it has been announced that inflation is up again and that prices are rising faster than wages I found in my letter box an election leaflet from the Scottish Conservatives. It is a very strange document indeed. It is four sides of glossy A4 and is an entirely policy-free zone. If I were a floating voter or a young person voting for the first time it would be quite useless to me. It tells me nothing about how they would govern the country if elected. It is, however, devoted entirely to the SNP and the possibility of a second referendum. It name-checks Nicola Sturgeon eight times, Ruth Davidson five times and Theresa May can only manage four, although she does get the same number of photographs as Ms Sturgeon – two. The SNP is given 10 mentions in the text but the Conservatives just win this contest with 13.

The voters in Scotland are perfectly capable of deciding whether or not to vote for independence but this is a General Election and it would be good to have some policies to consider. The Tory Party's obsession with the SNP and independence is as ridiculous as its reliance on slogans.

I know where my vote is going and it most certainly will not be to the one-trick pony Scottish Tories.

Sandy Riddell,

Machar, Arbeadie Road, Banchory.

NICOLA Sturgeon claims 10 years of SNP rule has been a decade of delivery for Scotland (“We are not perfect but we’ve made real progress”, The Herald, May 17). In her mind this may be so but to most Scots the last 10 years have marked a steep decline in Scotland's abilities in most fields. The fact that Ms Sturgeon cannot see the damage her administration has done to education, the economy, health, the housing market, the police and the taxation system shows that she is out of touch with reality.

The only things the SNP has delivered are chaos and, as a result, the resurgence of the Scottish Tories. The law of unintended consequences perhaps, but every cloud has a silver lining.

Dr Gerald Edwards,

Broom Road, Glasgow.

THE SNP has pushed constantly to persuade us to vote for independence. It argued that this would allow it to reverse such things as the bedroom tax and suggested it would fight against reductions in benefits for the poorest in Scotland. Following its failure to secure a Yes vote in the referendum it was given devolved powers which allowed it to set its own budget.

This resulted in a reduction of the personal allowance of those fortunate enough to fall into the 40 per cent tax bracket. Time will tell how soon this will affect the more ambitious people in the country. Domestic rates for homes in bands E-H will pay a fixed sum in addition to whatever rate the council decides to impose up to a maximum of three per cent.

In the case of East Dunbartonshire this amounts to a rise of more than £41 per month for a band G house. The SNP fails to realise that many occupiers of such homes are aged pensioners. Many of the wives are from a generation where the wife had to stop working to bring up children. This means that they are in receipt of very small state pensions. I think the expression is asset-rich but cash-poor.

Meanwhile the hospitals are failing to provide a realistic level of service, schooling seems to be failing miserably and services in general are gradually deteriorating. This after a decade of SNP control.

Trust the SNP? No thanks.

J Wallace,

50 Prestonfield, Milngavie.