ALEX Salmond's shot at David Torrance that they hardly know each other (read it here) misses the point completely of the value of an unofficial biographer to the reading public (particularly of a politician).

Very few of the Scottish electorate will have met Mr Salmond or will know him. The electorate must judge him on what he says and does.

David Torrance's opinion piece Why the Salmond magic is in need of a revisionist take was a perspective on what Mr Salmond has said and done in the past. Mr Salmond's predictable response was yet again to go for the man and not the ball.

Colin Hood,

Craigmaddie Road,

Milngavie.

WELL done, David Torrance, for your article on Alex Salmond. Obviously he's hit a raw nerve, as I see the reply from Alex Salmond today. Mr Salmond doesn't like it when people speak against him. To quote Robert Burns: "Oh wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us, to see oursels as others see us."

The No vote won by a large majority. Alex Salmond blames the "old" people for voting against independence. How the SNP can tell which age group voted in a particular way baffles me. I thought our votes were confidential.

Catherine Taylor,

14 Barra Avenue,

Wishaw.

ALEX Salmond's pompous, self-serving criticism of David Torrance's profile of him perfectly illustrates the traits in his personality identified in the article. The First Minister protests too much.

Rodger Baillie,

88 Main Road,

Fenwick.