IT increasingly seems like a race to the bottom of mediocrity in Scottish politics.

Let’s start with the next would-be leader of the SNP, Stephen Flynn. Did he really not manage to think it through when he concluded that it would be a good idea to seek to be a MP and a MSP at the same time? Clue: Douglas Ross. And believe that the smart way to get there was to challenge a respected sitting MSP? Apparently so. I think not. And he shouldn’t have done so either. He should be political toast. But such is the lack of talent in the SNP these days that he probably won’t be.

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And roll up Anas Sarwar. It’s difficult to fathom that he could not have realised how imbecilically foolish it would be to promise heating jam several years from now when pensioners are set to suffer from no heating jam now.

It truly beggars belief. Was a challenge to Starmer and his Tory-lite agenda a better option? Apparently not. More toast methinks. I never thought I’d say this, not least because of her position regarding Trident versus jobs in her constituency, but maybe Jackie Baillie might be a better option for the comrades? They could hardly do worse.

But let’s not forget the Greens. Insisting that the Scottish Government keeps allocating money for independence if they want Green support for their budget is simply absurd. Who is taking these decisions, and why? Stick to the day job of making sure the planet doesn’t go down the ecological toilet, and I say that as the person who actually proposed support for independence as Green Party policy back in 1986. But in any case, it’s not going to happen in the near future.

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And while I am no fan of Trump, assorted sallies by Patrick Harvie railing against the president-elect smack of student politics of the gesture variety. Possibly he was inspired by the equally foolish offering from John Swinney endorsing Kamala Harris, swiftly followed by a less-than-credible letter of congratulations to The Donald?

Harvie may not yet be toast, but he is fast approaching his sell-by date. However, with the possible exception of Mark Ruskell there is no-one amongst the current intake of Greens who might be capable of bringing some sense and gravitas to the job.

I’ll not intrude on the private grief of the Tories, or the happy delusions of the Liberal Democrats, but I will conclude by saying that if what the above are offering in terms of talent is any fair measure, then currently we have very little to be optimistic about in Scottish politics.

Michael Collie
Dunfermline

I READ Rhoda Meek’s article in the Sunday National (Doffing the cap, releasing the tups and the power of oligarchs, old and new, Nov 10) and agree with all she says. I was a national serviceman, but due to my job as an insulation engineer or lagger (my job was very mobile, moving from one boilerhouse to the next every two to three weeks), I was always somewhere else when call-ups arrived.

This was very handy, but luck ran out in 1965. I reported to the King’s Own Scottish Borderers Berwick, where I joined the last draft of national servicemen in the Royal Scots. “Wilson” made me the last name on the list. It did me no harm and I learned a lot about life. (I spent a good part of it in Benghazi and Tripoli in Libya – I loved it.)

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As a nationalist, I caused a bit of a stir when I refused to take an oath of allegiance to “The Queen”. I said I was a ScotNat but would give my oath to Scotland and my regiment. After discussion, this was acceptable – everybody was happy.

My wish to see an independent Scotland has never faltered.

Scotland must be awakened before it’s too late.

Read the stories of the Clearances, they are still going on, they never ceased. Ask anyone in Highland areas why the locals leave – there is “no affordable housing for locals”.

Scotland has been cleared by incoming wealthy buyers who pay little or no tax.

Sorry if I go on a bit, but it really makes my blood boil when I read or see on TV about those outside Scotland buying estates for private development to turn us into golf courses, places for sailing, Disneylands and, the worst of the lot, when it’s for “royalty”.

It’s time people started asking questions. If Charles owns everything washed up by the tide, should we not start bagging all sewage, used condoms, nappies, wet wipes etc and send them to the owner at Buckingham Palace? I’m sure that would keep our shores clean.

T Wilson
Edinburgh

CAPTAIN Tom’s family have been rightly pilloried for gaining from the charity they set up.

Meanwhile the BBC chooses to ignore the fact that Charles and William are gaining from many charities through the exorbitant charges made for the use of their land and buildings, for example by London ambulances, lifeboats that launch in parts of England and many buildings housing charities that pay huge rents for the pleasure.

It most certainly is two-tier morality that applies in this country, so the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

READ MORE: Scottish Labour have some brass neck to U-turn on Winter Fuel Payments

I know there are a lot of well-off pensioners who may be asset-rich and cash-poor, but how can any Labour MP vote to take away the Winter Fuel Payment for all pensioners not in receipt of Pension Credit without any assessment? And then the Scottish Secretary of State says the figures of those affected are “accurate” but don’t contain all the information needed.

The removal of the Winter Fuel Payment and the keeping of the two-child benefit cap confirms for me that Labour have no concern at all for the poor but just want to keep the banks and media onside.

Winifred McCartney
Paisley