Is it any real wonder that SNP 'won' election?

Though the SNP achieved under 48 per cent of the votes on a mere 63 per cent turnout, ie they were supported by just 30 per cent of the electorate, it has emerged as the “winner” of the Scottish election.

But that is hardly surprising, given that the BBC gave its leader five days per week free publicity for 14 months; that Blair/brown’s devolution unwisely allowed it to lower the already too-low voting age of 18 to include children of 16; that Westminster’s Barnett formula gives it extra funding largesse not available to poorer parts of England and enabled them to claim undeserved credit . . .

That Cameron ludicrously gave momentum to Salmond/sturgeon by handing them all the critical elements of the 2014 referendum terms; that Labour and the Lib Dems refused to adopt any form of a united front against secession . . .

That all the pro-uk parties gave more publicity to rejecting a second indyref than to hammer the SNP’S abject governmental failures (even on Sturgeon’s own terms) on education, care homes, the NHS, drug addiction, ferries, the “named person” plan etc…

And that too many voters fell for her flawed claim that Scotland’s Covid numbers are far superior to England’s, while some even seem blissfully unaware that Holyrood has total responsibility for, inter alia, Scotland’s schools and health services.

Nor did Ruth Davidson’s resignation as Conservative leader help, leaving Scotland’s second party almost rudderless for too long, and with two leadership changes, far too close to the election.

JOHN BIRKETT Horseleys Park St Andrews, Fife