SIR, I write to seek clarification from John Lamont, local MSP and the Tory candidate for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk at the forthcoming Westminster election, about whether, like his Tory colleague Sir Malcolm Rifkind, he currently has too much time on his hands?

Mr Lamont was absent from Parliament on Thursday of last week and was seen sporting jeans and a hoodie (perhaps a disguise given his lack of acknowledgment on his weekly leaflets that he is indeed a Tory) in Selkirk and later tweeted that he was at a pop-up shop, presumably campaigning for Westminster.

Surely he should have been in attendance at First Minister’s Questions representing his constituents?

And on Friday Mr Lamont tweeted that he was “very impressed with the kids at Channelkirk Primary School”, which is actually a school out-with his Scottish Parliamentary constituency of Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire.

So, again it looks like he is spending time on the campaign trail when he is supposed to be representing his constituents and, in his own words, is supposedly “a strong voice for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire.” Can Mr Lamont please confirm that he is actually still working as an MSP in the Scottish Parliament or whether he has taken time off to campaign for the Westminster election?

I am, etc.

Name and address withheld Selkirk