With the next General Election fast approaching all politicians are now coming out their cupboards to impose their political views on the electorate.

For me the turning point in the working class environment occurred in 1984 with the miners' strike, heavy engineering, shipbuilding etc having gone downhill ever since.

Scotland has never had any favours from London politically, and I thought with the recent referendum the Scottish electorate would have grabbed the opportunity with both hands but alas with the extreme scaremongering behind the scenes they decided against it.

With all the big closures over the last few decades a recent letter in your paper summed up the Labour Party for me over this period "offered words of sympathy and very little else."

P Gallacher via email

I see George Osborne and his Government in their wisdom have decided to sell off the Channel Tunnel on the cheap just when its beginning to show a profit.

But don't worry George assures us that its a great deal for the tax payer. Mmmm. Does that mean I can look forward to a nice wee cheque dropping through my letter box in the bear future.

John Kerr Coatbridge via email

Great to see that the loveable Clyde will be making a comeback. He was such a hit during the Commonwealth Games, that he won a place in the city's affection. I can't wait to see him back on the streets. It was the right decision by the council to keep him and I am sure he will prove to be just as a big a hit this time around as well.

P Marsh South Side

Regarding Murphy saying fight for the people not yourselves.

What labour in Scotland have failed to grasp is that people don't see much difference between labour and the Tories, both do nothing for the working man, however the people couldn't stomach voting Tory, so they vote SNP or any other.

John McHugh, Glasgow posted online

I see another council is considering banning the sale of energy drinks from its sports centre. Quite right too. The amount of sugar contained in some of them is staggering. Nothing better than water to get the system going.

G Henderson, Mount Florida