IN my experience of local government, both as an officer and (later) as an elected member, the overwhelming majority of councillors are hard-working individuals dedicated to the service of their communities within the strictures of their party's policies on local administration. The individual elector will be influenced by party loyalty but, by and large, a hard-working councillor will be re-elected on local issues.

The attempts by the Ruth Davidson's Conservative and Unionist Party to turn the forthcoming local elections into some form of national referendum on the need for a second referendum on independence are despicable. They are no such thing. These elections are to enable us to select the people we want to run our ordinary, everyday affairs from bins to social care, planning and education.

It must cause grave concern to Labour and LibDem candidates that their leaders have followed the Tory line on this. It should cause no concern to SNP, Green and Independent candidates, for they are standing on their record as representing local communities where it matters. The constitutional debate is an entirely separate issue.

KM Campbell,

Bank House, Doune.