Is it just me?

Am I alone in feeling a twinge of sympathy for beleaguered MSP Mark Mcdonald, whose erstwhile SNP colleagues are now refusing to share a corridor with him (your report, 8 March) and in the case of the Aberdeen North MP Kirsty Blackman, appear intent on fomenting discontent amongst his constituents.

Mr Mcdonald, after all, has broken no laws and has worn sackcloth and ashes for the media on innumerable occasions. His “inappropriate behaviour” is indeed reprehensible, but so too is kicking a man (or woman) when they’re down.

Surely the scrutiny should once again be on the SNP’S selection processes and their handling of the whole saga. Mr Mcdonald’s rapid and mysterious renunciation of his ministerial role in November and the approval this evinced from Nicola Sturgeon was surely part of a consensual “step back now and wait till it all blows over strategy” which the continuing #Metoo tsunami and the Holyrood Harassment Survey have blown out of the water.

Now the possibility of the byelection return from Siberian exile of the none-too politically correct Alex Salmond seems to have re-focused minds, to Mr Mcdonald’s detriment.

Suitably chaperoned (perhaps by his Behaviour Coach) I’m sure Mr Mcdonald could continue to serve the people of Aberdeen Donside effectively until the next election. After all, job prospects for vaguely disgraced MSPS must be sorely limited.

JOHN WOOD

The Croft, St Boswells