WITH the election of Donald Trump as the US President many commentators described the times as being “post-truth”, given his redaction of any facts which were not in keeping with his egocentric view of the world.

In Scotland, given the outlandish claims of the Unionist media, it seems that we are about to enter a “post-mathematics” era where the hitherto inviolable rules of mathematics, which were once accepted universally, are to be bent to suit anti-SNP rhetoric .

Whereas in every democratic election since time began (or at least until Ruth Davidson began counting postal votes) the winner was deemed to be the party which accumulated the most seats, we are being told that if the SNP win one less seat than in 2015, that is to be considered a victory for the Tory party.

“Peak SNP” will have passed if they are unable to hold on to 56 parliamentary seats, even if only 55.

Conversely, should the Tories win one more seat in Scotland, that is to be considered the greatest comeback since Lazarus (but he had the help of the Son of God, the Tories only had Ruth Davidson, so their comeback is even better).

Even under Margaret Thatcher in the 1987 election, with 24 per cent of the vote the Tories held 10 seats. So Ruth’s target is clearly to recover from the dreadful 14.9 per cent she achieved in 2015 and get the “nasty” party back to the level of the awful Thatcher era where she was rejected by over 75 per cent of the voters.

But with the entire Unionist media backing her regardless of her dearth of policies, save one (I wonder if anyone can guess what that is?) and praising her endlessly, especially her prowess on armoured vehicles and large bovine animals, it would appear that the laws of mathematics will be suspended for the duration of this election and until hell freezes over.

Or until the Tories win an actual majority (as in one seat more than the SNP – not just one seat!), whichever is first.

Good luck, Ruth!

James Mills, Johnstone

DEAR Ruth Davidson, thank you for your letter, undated, received on May 2.

I realised you are “Leader of the S.C.U.P.” by reading on to the bottom of the page, but since there is no political party heading on your letter I assume you are writing to me in a personal capacity.

Could it be that, like Marine Le Pen, you are considering leaving the S.C.U.P. and standing for president of Scotland after independence?

Ah, sorry, I’ve just noticed that there’s no mention anywhere in your letter of either the local or General Elections, so you’re probably avoiding having your letter considered under election expenses – a sensible move, good thinking.

Your message seems to be that, firstly, you want to send a message to the SNP; secondly, that Nicola Sturgeon is demanding a referendum; thirdly, that you want to send her a clear message; and finally, that you can be relied on as the person to send that message.

Well, if you need to send that message, and think you possess the clarity and reliability to do so, then by all means, send it.

You don’t need my permission! No, really!

One last thing – you can call me a pedant if you like – but if you can’t produce an actual verbatim quotation from Nicola Sturgeon promising (not warning) that the 2014 referendum would be “once in a generation”, then your repeated assertion could be construed as a little more than an oversight.

Derek Ball, Bearsden

THIS week sees 10 years since the SNP took control at Holyrood, and we have opposition parties claiming there is nothing to celebrate – they are partly right!

Right because we have seen no effective opposition despite two separate opposition parties having graced the opposition side of the chamber.

Those two parties are closer than ever, yet unable to demonstrate any real effective opposition. One party clearly in meltdown, the other with a leader who is clearly being manipulated by her back benchers, no clear leadership or direction from either.

During those 10 years, the SNP gave Scotland it’s longest serving First Minister, over seven years, creating a stable environment for government, and this was clearly recognised by the country when the SNP received another mandate for government, while opposition parties licked their wounds.

Where are those opposition parties in recognising the enormous mitigating measures the SNP as the Scottish Government have put in place against the welfare and austerity cuts, not to mention the bedroom tax, imposed by Westminster’s Conservative Government.

Ten years in Government, 10 years of spending precious resources from the Scottish budget on mitigating measures and putting in place the Scottish Welfare Fund, which in the past three years has spent over £100 million in Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants, assisting those the Westminster’s policies are victimising.

With those revealing figures, it really is a bit rich for any Conservative in Scotland to criticise the SNP Scottish Government’s 10 years and counting.

Catriona C Clark, Banknock, Falkirk

WITH reference to Ms. Davidson’s Ed Balls comment (Robertson ‘wont do an Ed Balls’ claims Sturgeon, The National, May 3), I would suggest the Scottish Conservative and Unionist plans to oust Angus Roberston take “balls”, putting up a candidate who already holds three jobs – a referee, a local councillor and an MSP.

It smacks of desperation in a party with a dearth of members, unable to find anyone to stand.

Catriona Whitton, Dunblane

WITH the Tories we are already in debt.

This debt is caused by cutbacks in doctors, nurses, teachers, police, and social care.

This debt has to be repaid by the next government, otherwise the country’s wellbeing will crash into ill health; our children will not be educated enough to compete with children from other countries, such as China. Hong Kong and India.

In Hong Kong the nursery classes learn three languages through play: Cantonese, Mandarin, and the universal language. English.

The next government, to provide our public services, must start generating income. Firstly, at local level; secondly, at regional level, e.g. the poorest region, Cornwall; thirdly, at national level, including Wales, Scotland and Ireland; and finally, globally.

What’s the Tories’ Plan? When are they going to start raising money, for example by stimulating our economy? We need something on the table now. Stop re-running Brexit, because that’s a done deal.

We need our politicians to visit our poor areas and speak to the poor, as to how to regenerate their neighbourhood.

Globally we must find out what Africa needs to thrive, as with Greece, Romania, Poland, Hungary, and what these countries can export to us.

The money makers have to be identified and contribute their fair share – possibly the same percentage the poor are giving.

The debt caused by cuts in the professions is now palpable and urgently needs to be repaid by replacing the ones we have lost.

Stop taking from the poor, and come up with a solution. Raise some money; it can’t be beyond the wit of man.

AC, Aberdeen

ADE Hegney’s letter on the definition of extremist (Letters, The National May 2) is one of the best letters I have ever read in The National – and that’s saying something!

F. Gray, Argyll