DUP outgun Ruth baker’s dozen

SIR, – After much rhetoric about the influence the 13 Scottish Tory MPs would wield in Theresa May's government, it seems they've buckled at the very first opportunity. There is no doubt that the £1billion being given to Northern Ireland to get the backing of the 10 DUP MPs should have meant a windfall to the Scottish Parliament through the Barnett formula, especially as the money is specifically earmarked for devolved areas like health and transport.

10 is of course less than 13, yet the DUP apparently has more influence over this government than Ruth Davidson's baker's dozen. I wonder if those who voted for the likes of Ross Thomson and Colin Clark a few weeks ago realised “no to indyref2" actually meant “no to sticking up for Scotland”?

With the UK Government appointing the 19th different energy minister in as many years, the north-east cannot afford to have MPs who will spend all their time hiding on the backbenches. Doug Daniel Balmoral Place, Aberdeen