Irony shortfall

With no apparent irony, a Conservatives spokeswoman says that the challengers for the SNP depute leader “would be unlikely to inspire confidence in their own homes”.

Let’ s not forget that this woman speaks for a party whose members are not even recognised by members of their own UK bosses’ party in Westminster. However, maybe the four who have signed up to Jacob Rees-mogg’s alt-right European Research Group will now become household names.

Meanwhile, the entire Tory group voted against an amendment which would have allowed £140 million of reclaimed VAT to be returned to Scotland. Regardless of the rights or wrongs of whether our emergency services should have been put in the position of being charged VAT, to vote against recouping the money for our service, smacks of vindictive spite.

GILL TURNER Derby Street, Edinburgh