Pandas v Tories

at the mouth of the mighty Tweed are delighted that our cousins by the Forth now match us in number.

However, whereas we chose to illuminate one of ours and so are able to mark international, national, cultural and charitable events with a suitable colour scheme, drawing tourists, our cousins cannot. I think pressure for a rethink is called for. (THE REV CANON) ALAN HUGHES MBE TD Governors Gardens Berwick upon Tweed again building a bridge from Scotland to Northern Ireland? A fixed link would result in an enormous amount of trade and investment at either end. There would be great benefits to the Republic of Ireland as well as to the West of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

NIGEL F BODDY Fife Road, Darlington Martyn Mclaughlin (30 August) does not discuss the ratio between giant pandas and Conservative MPS in Scotland. For several years there were more pandas than Conservative MPS.

Now the MPS outnumber the pandas. It is unlikely that Tian Tian will have 12 babies. Unless independence comes first, do we have to wait till the next UK general election to restore the panda superiority?

DAVID STEVENSON Blacket Place, Edinburgh