Old men shouting

Sir, – It must be maddening for Tories in Scotland as they watch their English counterparts win big while here in our country they become less relevant with every passing day.

Their abrasive style as demonstrated by Kerr and Ross just turns ordinary people off, their continual hate of anything or anybody connected to the SNP makes them look insular, out of touch and plain nasty. Of course this may appeal to around 20% of the electorate but it is a ceiling that they will be unable to break through.

If they want to be relevant in modern Scotland they will have to demonstrate what they have to offer the debate other than SNP bad blah blah blah.

It’s like the world is going on round about them but they aren’t really in it as relevance escapes them.

Perhaps if they engaged in the debate on the constitution and other serious issues people would listen rather than shake their heads and look to the heavens and, in many cases, laugh at them.

It can’t be easy for them continually relying on the support of their betters in Conservative HQ and being seen as working against a progressive Scotland. They still think their brand of British nationalism has something to offer and painting a Union Jack on everything will make Scots feel British when they know that to be untrue.

Their brand of British nationalism is from a time long past and won’t return – time for them to understand this or just be a party of old men shouting in an empty room. Bryan Auchterlonie. Bluebell Cottage, Perth.