THE news “Watchdog appears to say Scots Labour aren’t a party” (Aug 5) should not come as a surprise to readers, as although Xander Elliards’s article carries the weight of the Electoral Commission (EC) on the status of the Labour’s Scottish branch, this has been covered many times in articles and letters in The National.

There is no record of a political party named “Scottish Labour Party” in the EC’s GB register of political parties. If that is not enough evidence for some people then searching through the EC’s publications reveals plenty of additional information proving that the Scottish Labour Party is the name of an accounting unit (a financially autonomous branch) registered with the EC by the Labour Party.

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The branch’s correspondence address is Labour Party Office, Kings Manor, Newcastle, NE1 6PA, United Kingdom.

A search in the EC’s section on registration and financial accounts for 2021 located an entry, ST0025212:

Entity name – Labour Party

Reported by – Scottish Labour Party

This downloadable report is in a similar format to that of most other political bodies and could be mistaken for the annual accounts of a political party called the Scottish Labour Party with its headquarters at an address in Bath Street, Glasgow were it not for a single line under the heading of administrative information: “The Scottish Labour Party is a body established under the national rules of the Labour Party.”

Although this document shows more than a million pounds of campaign income and expenditure, the EC records spending on the 2021 Holyrood election under the name of the Labour Party.

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EC records also show that donations have been made to the Labour Party’s accounting unit, Scottish Labour Party, for example (C0543386) a cash donation of £870 on 05/01/2021 from the Co-operative Party.

These are only a few examples of the information that is available on the Electoral Commission’s website. Perhaps it should be asked to explain why it approved the use of such a misleading name for a branch of a political party.

John Jamieson
South Queensferry

IT is amusing to watch some politicians pretend they have a party when they don’t. The last registered party to call itself The Scottish Labour Party (SLP) was formed by Jim Sillars in the early seventies. Through your offices I would ask Jim Sillars to seriously consider resurrecting his party (even through a crowdfunder to cover any expenses) and put those who would pretend to belong to a party with the same name out of their misery and prevent them from standing under this description.

The same applies to the Scottish Conservative Party which is also a figment of their imagination, so surely a few people could do the right thing and apply to register this one too.

Richard Easson
Dornoch

IN her column on Monday Kirsty Strickland wrote sensibly and calmly about her former MP Margaret Ferrier, “I thought she did the job well”, which was refreshing to read given the hysterical outpourings on the subject in recent months. And like Ms Strickland I too wonder about all those parliamentarians as they repeat what they’ve heard “on the doorstep”, usually something that fits their own agenda. Despite living in my present home in the centre of Edinburgh for more than 40 years, a main-door flat that is not at all difficult to access, I have been canvassed on only one occasion some 20 years ago, so I listen to views from “the doorstep” with a wry smile...

Iain Black
Edinburgh

I WAS disappointed by the headline used for my letter in the Sunday National’s Feedback section (Aug 6) – in the printed version of the paper, but most particularly in the online version: “Reversing damage to the climate and NHS may be tricky post-indy”.

These words seem to me to express considerable doubt about the possibility of our nullifying the contractual arrangements which have been entered into by the Sunak government, regarding oil and gas extraction from the North Sea, or as it is planning to do with private/commercial health care facilities, which are integrated into NHS provision.

I did request an authoritative view from experts in the relevant fields, but I did not really want to emphasise any particular difficulty being introduced by our having independent status – rather the reverse. I think that becoming independent might make the breaking of the terms of these contracts rather easier (and legal under international law) which would not be the case if we remained a component part of the existing UK – especially if we NOW announce that it is our intention NOT to honour those contracts WHEN (not if) we are independent.

As a member of the UK it is UK law (and that means – according to the UK Supreme Court – English law) with which (some believe) we must comply. It we are an independent country, however, it would be international law which would be relevant.

Hugh Noble
Appin

I RECEIVED an email about Gordon Brown coming to Edinburgh next month to discuss a new book he has co-written. I am incredulous that Brown is coming to talk about poverty and inequality where currently Scottish Labour and Sir Keir Starmer have no solutions and are offering the same conservative policies as the current Conservative and Unionist Party in broken Brexit Britain at the next election.

Kenny Gilchrist
via email