The Tories have fostered division

ALAN Dougan (Letters, May 3) declares that “the SNP Government has fostered division and distrust, particularly since its refusal to accept the result of the 2014 referendum”. However, I would suggest that it is the various antics of the Conservatives at Westminster which have caused real division and distrust, not only in Scotland but around the UK.

I would further point out to Mr Dougan that at the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections, the SNP manifesto clearly stated that there would not be another independence referendum, “unless there was a significant and material change of circumstances, such as Scotland being taken out of the European Union against our will”. The SNP was returned to power on that manifesto, returned to power again at last May’s Holyrood elections, and won the majority of Scottish seats at the UK General Elections of 2017 and 2019.

It is significant that unionists never complain about Scotland being taken out of the EU after voting overwhelmingly to remain, and never complain at Scotland being inflicted with Tory governments we never voted for. Ruth Marr, Stirling.