Prime Minister’s call for a snap general election is one big tick in the irony box

Prime Minister Theresa May stated it was the wrong time to hold a referendum then she calls a General election. Now that is ironic

JOHN CUTLAND Montgomery Street, Kirkcaldy How wholly predictable a response from the First Minister who has been completely caught on the hop by the announcement of a general election!

For First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to say the calling of the election was “once again putting the interests of her party ahead of those of the country” and would have a “divisive agenda” is staggeringly hypocritical and almost comical.

This from a First Minister who specialises in a single issue “divisive agenda” and calls for a referendum 18-24 months from now and before any meaningful discussions have been entered into on Brexit and the terms that will apply.

The Prime Minister’s decision clearly shows that Ms Sturgeon jumped the gun far too early simply to appease her supporters prior to her recent party conference and she knows it.

We now have the huge opportunity to send a message to the single-issue SNP that an independence referendum is not needed at all and we can elect a government that will govern for the UK, negotiate strongly with the EU and deal with the demanding domestic issues that the SNP have neglected to do for ten years in their pursuit of independence.

RICHARD ALLISON Braehead Loan, Edinburgh Whether or not Prime Minister Theresa May’s announcement was a shock to you, the date for this snap General Election is incredibly soon, plus of course, it follows hot on the heels of the local elections.

With all political parties now turning their attention to continued campaigning, it is a huge concern that all the important issues of the day will take a back seat for the foreseeable future. This is far from ideal.

The expense of this general election, and the run-up to it, will also be major – money which could be put to far better use for other purposes. JUDI MARTIN

Maryculter Aberdeenshire It now becomes very apparent that there is a vast tactical gulf between Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon. Theresa May has the courage of her convictions to call a general election when she sees it is needed to further her aims. On the other hand, Nicola Sturgeon avoided a similar move to call a new Holyrood election to back up her claimed need for Scottish independence. The obvious inference is that Ms Sturgeon knew she would lose despite all her rhetoric about the “will of the Scottish people”

to want it.

Ms Sturgeon is now very much on the back foot. You have to put your money where your mouth is. GERALD EDWARDS Broom Road, Glasgow When asked about the Prime Minister’s decision to call a general election, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that Mrs May was acting “in the narrow interest of her own party”.

This isn’t just a case of “pot, kettle, black”, but a breathtaking display of hypocrisy from the most single-minded politician in the United Kingdom. Let’s hope the people of Scotland give her a wake-up call on both 4 May 4 and 8 June.

JIM HOUSTON Winton Gardens, Edinburgh With Theresa May calling a snap general election on 8 June, please let this be a date that the people of Scotland wake up and reject SNP rule. Scotland deserves better than 56 MPS representing us who behave in a boorish manner, both in parliament and on social media.

They only have independence as its goal while neglecting to do a fair and reasonable job with the devolved powers that they do have.

They have failed the police, education system and health service in Scotland and are threatening another divisive referendum.

And they constantly bicker with and blame Westminster for not having more powers yet they can’t take control of The Welfare Benefits until 2020, leaving vulnerable people they claim to care about so much at the hands of Westminster.

Nicola Sturgeon says judge us on our record, I only hope the Scottish Electorate do this on 8 June because Scotland is worth more than being led by an immature and divisive government. GORDON KENNEDY Simpson Square, Perth Now that Theresa May has altered the cycle for Westminster elections, it is time to insist that the four year cycle for elections to the Scottish Parliament should be restored.

That means that the next Holyrood elections should be held in 2019, even if that conflicts with other elections/referenda.

HAMISH DEWAR Craiglockhart Grove, Edinburgh