Shaky ground

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard is on very shaky ground when he tries to blame the SNP for UK austerity, which was supported by Labour in the 2010 and 2015 General Elections and led to a £3 billion cut to Scotland’s budget (your report, 5 June).

Tory austerity hits all four countries but the SNP record in mitigating these cuts and performance in devolved areas remains far superior to the Labour government in Wales and in Tory-run England. He also forgets that under Keir Hardie, the early Labour Party supported selfgovernment for Scotland.

UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has failed to capitalise on Prime Minister Theresa May’s poor leadership and latest polls put Labour over 100 seats behind the Tories in the event of an early general election.

FRASER GRANT Warrender Park Road, Edinburgh