Blackford is all talk when it comes to following up his walkout from Commons

In the brave new world of SNP disruptive politics, Ian Blackford strikes a rather odd pose as the agitator in chief who cannot make his mind up in case he upsets someone.

Jut two weeks ago, Blackford led a walkout of SNP MPS from the House of Commons in outrage over their treatment on Brexit. He went on to explain that they were so aggrieved that they would wage a campaign of disruption in protest.

Yet now, when asked where they stand on the critical issue of whether or not there should be another EU referendum, Mr Blackford says he will keep an “open ear” about it.

Despite all that manufactured outrage, he finds his hands tied. For as much as the SNP love to taunt the Tories about their splits on the issue of Europe, the SNP itself has a substantial Leave faction who would not respond well to the SNP actively trying to overturn the EU referendum result.

KEITH HOWELL West Linton, Peeblesshire The recent display of petulance by Ian Blackford MP struck meat first as being similar to Phil Mickelson’ s behaviourduring the us open, when he deliberately broke the rules of golf, to his own advantage.

Mickelson’s action in using the rules in this way may not in itself be illegal, but most sports people will frown upon it.

I wondered if Blackford’s display was really the same sort of situation, but then remembered that he, Blackford,was supposed to be representing Scotland and its people, or at least,some of them.

Add to this that he was actually elected as a replacement for Lib Dem Charles Kennedy, who would have behaved with dignity and would have debated, argued, persuaded and, yes, possibly compromised, in a responsible and mature way.

You did not have to agree with everything Charles Kennedy said to know that he represented Scotland in a way that we could all be proud of. Sadly,we seem to be left with only those who relentlessly try to pursue an archaic notion of nationhood, and who can only throw their toys out of the pram whenever a photoop presents itself.

ALAN SIM Hammerfield Avenue

Aberdeen From having enthusiastically backed a third runway at Heathrow over the long term, SNP MPS are now to abstain from voting on the matter.

We were informed by the SNP as recently as last Sunday that a third runway would significantly boost the Scottish economy and jobs. Now we’re simply told the UK Government hasn’t guaranteed the benefits. What’s going on? If this is another example of Ian Blackford’s antiuk Commons antics, Nicola Sturgeon should hang her head in shame. Is party before country again the SNP modus operandi here?

Or could it be that Greens coconvener Patrick Harvie has made it clear he won’t allow the next SNP budget through unless Sturgeon backs off from supporting such an environmentally-damaging project as a third runway?

MARTIN REDFERN Woodcroft Road, Edinburgh