Misjudgment by Nicola Sturgeon

Sir, - Political success is about momentum. Following the general election, Labour and the Scottish Tories have it in spades and the SNP does not. So what does this now mean for Nicola Sturgeon?

Her fingers will be firmly crossed against the possibility of an autumn election.

Yes, the nationalist leader reminds us the SNP has a majority here but 10 SNP seats have a sub-1,000 majority.

An autumn election would most likely eradicate their Westminster Scottish majority.

With pro-UK parties taking 62.4% of the vote and over 50% in every Scottish constituency last week, it is evident Ms Sturgeon has badly miscalculated on two counts.

Her obsession with a second referendum on her timetable, not ours, has backfired. A sizeable minority apparently endorse her separatist dreams but that’s not enough.

Secondly, Ms Sturgeon must stop pretending she’s a world leader and focus on her domestic remit.

Education, the NHS and other public services may not be glamorous but they are crucial to everyday lives.

It is inevitable Ms Sturgeon will pay lip service over coming weeks to such errors of judgment, positioning herself as concerned to be a part of the UK Brexit process. But we know she has a vested interest in UK failure at the negotiating table.

So will any shift in direction be a smokescreen?

Let us never forget the SNP’s raison d’etre is, first and foremost, independence.

Ms Sturgeon will be keen to give the impression she’s easing her foot off the second referendum accelerator.

Only the naive will believe her. Martin Redfern. Merchiston Gardens, Edinburgh.