Security breach

Watson Crescent, Edinburgh

It is not just independence that is causing division in Scotland courtesy of the Scottish National Party. The SNP claim they want to let Scotland’s voice be heard at Westminster. This is only partially true. There is a section of Scottish society who are constantly being vilified and called “toxic” by the SNP – the Tories. Now we have the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, ruling that there can be absolutely no support for a Tory administration should the results of the general election require it.

This means all those Scots who vote Tory are effectively having their voice silenced should a hung parliament be the end result. Alex Salmond was happy to accept Tory support when he ran his minority government at Holyrood. Ms Sturgeon claims to want a fairer, more equitable and inclusive society in Scotland. It seems that her offer does not extend to Tory Party supporters. (DR) GERALD EDWARDS

Broom Road, Glasgow

George Kerevan, SNP candidate for East Lothian, has taken out an advert in a local paper claiming the election is not about independence. The leaflet I received from Jim Eadie, SNP candidate for Edinburgh South, does not men-

tion the word “independence” even once! Is it not strange behaviour for a party to play down or cast aside the very issue they exist to promote? Especially given that Nicola Sturgeon – as well as Alex Salmond – has stated more than once that indyref2 and independence are “at the heart” of this election.

So who is telling the truth – the SNP hierarchy or the candidates in the field? Is this another example of the SNP proving themselves masters of the mixed message in the expectation that voters will hear what they want to hear? The voters should be aware that after the election is over there will be no mixed message. Every single vote cast for Mr Kerevan or any other SNP candidate will be touted as an unequivocal vote for a second referendum and for independence.

COLIN HAMILTON Braid Hills Avenue, Edinburgh Gordon Kennedy is wrong to say that there is no substance to Nick Clegg’s statement that leaving the European Court of Justice could affect our access to the Schengen Information System, the EU anti-terrorism database (Letters, 1 June).

Of course the EU countries will wish to share security data with us – all partners benefit – but that database is governed by the European Court of Justice so access will depend on accepting its jurisdiction, something Theresa May has vowed not to do. An in-depth analysis by a newspaper a few days ago concluded that Nick Clegg was on sol-