IN February, Theresa May and Ruth Davidson urged Scottish voters to vote Conservative in the council elections and send a message to Nicola Sturgeon, saying ‘No to a second independence referendum’.

The SNP, however, still won the council elections, with more votes and more seats, improving on the last council elections held in 2012.

The SNP is indeed the largest party in Scotland’s four main cities, replacing Labour as the largest party in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and maintaining its position as the largest party in Dundee.

The SNP is also now the largest party in 16 council area - up from 10 in 2012 - and joint largest in a further three councils.

Despite the Tory strategy of making the council election a referendum on a referendum, while they have done extremely well they did not win and are indeed well-behind behind the SNP.

The General Election is being fought by the Tories using this same strategy. However, it is anticipated the SNP will still finish as the largest party in Scotland, both in terms of votes and will have more than half the MPs.

If this transpires to be the case one hopes Ms May will do the honourable thing and meet with Ms Sturgeon as soon after June 8 as possible and make arrangements for the holding of the referendum.

Alex Orr, by email

Scales falling

IT is very simple why Glasgow now has eight Conservative and Unionist councillors. (Evening Times May 9).

People voted for them, that’s why.

The scales are beginning to fall from peoples’ eyes re the SNP. Labour are nearly down and out.

Rome wasn’t built in a day but the SNP high water mark has passed.

Loved Andrew Neill’s question last Sunday to Salmond ‘how many hours has been spent on your government’s time at Holyrood debating education?’ Salmond ‘I don’t have those figures to hand’. Neill ‘I do - NIL’.

SNP are a one trick pony and are paid to run Scotland not drone on and on and on and on and on about Indy2 - only 3 years since the ‘once in a lifetime’ last referendum.

William Boyd, posted online

Well done Tories

WELL done the Tories in Glasgow.

In May 1977 the Tories won 25 seats. Labour got 27 and the SNP 17 seats.

Labour resigned the administration and the Conservatives ran a minority administration for 3 years. I was part of it! Conservative councillors were elected in all parts of the city.

John Richmond, posted online