FIRST let me congratulate you on another excellent article by David Ross (June 23). It gave me one of the best summaries of the Skye Bridge problem that I have read.
My congratulations also go to Messrs Dewar and Wilson at the Scottish Office who today have completed my disillusionment with the ''political process''. I am disappointed in Brian Wilson in particular. Here is a man we thought was principled, and would stand up for the Highlands, the way he has for the past 20 years.
Had I made the statements that he has on the issue of the Bridge to Skye I would now be seriously be considering whether my principles would allow me to occupy a position on the front bench.
Brian Wilson, of all people, should be aware of the depth of feeling against the festering sore that is the toll issue; he must also be aware that dabbing TCP on a sore that has cut to the bone will not cure it. The issue will not go away with a fudge.
As long as the Dingwall Court trials continue, his Government will face the prospect of a long and messy fight. He will have to be prepared to arrest respectable members of the community, who are now totally disillusioned with the police and the judiciary.
If Sheriff James Fraser finds against us on July 10 we are left with the situation, as argued by the Fiscal, that everybody in the car is liable on a pro-rata basis. This will allow many who, up until now, have been unable to protest because they were not drivers, to participate.
Born and brought up on Skye, I have never known an issue which so united people from all walks of life on the island. No political compromise will overcome the strong sense of injustice that we feel. I am proud to have been part of it, and will continue the fight to the bitter end.
John Campbell,
Dundiggin, Hostel Road,
Portree, Isle of Skye.
June 23.
Just when I was beginning to believe this Labour Government may actually bring about some real changes in the fortunes of Scotland the true Unionism of the Labour Party in Scotland hits the surface.
Labour did well in Scotland at the last election. No doubt this was connected to the vague but persistent statements by numerous Labour politicians that they would take steps to end the disgraceful injustice of the Skye Bridge.
Labour's candidate in Skye, assisted by a new Scottish Office Minister, was fulsome in praise for the protesters and swift in condemnation of the wicked Tories who had inflicted such a disaster on the Highlands.
That was before the election. Now, only a matter of weeks later, Donald Dewar is produced to start laying out the ground for the retreat before abject and complete surrender of all principle in order to satisfy the Tory budget figures adopted by his ''New Labour'' colleagues.
Far from being ''new'', this is old Labour through and through. Promising the Earth in the lead up to an election, retreating a mile the minute polling-day has passed. Stormy days lie ahead for this Labour administration if this latest sellout is the measure of their commitment to Scotland.
I thought it was impossible to remove the Tories and end up with a Government that would not take urgent action to end the Skye Bridge ''experiment''.
I have some sympathy for Labour's candidate, Donnie Munro. While he was singing one tune, little did he realise that the main orchestra was just playing along, at the same time rewriting the real songbook for release at a later date. The orchestra's target was to be number one on polling-day. He is now left with a failed single. Ah, the price of being a politician in a Unionist party in Scotland!
Iain Lawson,
Elected Member, SNP National Council,
27 Ben Lui Drive,
Paisley.
June 24.
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