A few facts

Now for a few facts, using Malachy Tallack’s own letter (‘Deeply patronising’, SN 07/04/14) as reference.

1. 65 per cent of Holyrood MSPs at present are men.
2. Between 1945 and 2001, at Westminster, 20 per cent of Conservative ministers and 68 per cent of Labour ministers were state educated.
3. Less than half of the current shadow cabinet received a private education.
4. Comparing the ratio of women and to men in Holyrood and Westminster, the difference is only 13 per cent. Hardly a world shattering statistic.
5. The Scottish Parliament has never had a woman as first minister. The only ever female leader of a Scottish mainstream party is a Tory [What about Johann Lamont and Wendy Alexander? Ed.]

Those facts rather prove the lie of “an Old Etonian, male-dominated Westminster”. I am sorry Malachy Tallack uses the slur of me being patronising, so very typical of a Nat (cyberNAT) to insult when defending the indefensible.

As I stated Louise’s claims were indeed divisive and also demonstrably and lamentably disingenuous.

Ian Tinkler
Clousta