SIR, I’m sure Mr Mundell MP was sincere in thanking voters who narrowly helped him survive a 27 per cent swing to the SNP’s Emma Harper.

But with the appointment and elevation to the peerage of the unelected Andrew Dunlop, Mr Mundell must surely be thinking that had it not been for those 'pesky’ 798 votes he could have been Lord Mundell and still have kept his old job at the Scotland Office.

Since the Scottish Parliament’s re-establishment I’m not sure that I - nor most people on the X62 omnibus - know what the Scotland Office actually does these days other than perfidiously smearing political opponents.

Perhaps it is time for it to become an entirely ceremonial office? Come on Mr Cameron, you know it makes sense!

I am, etc.

Al Munro High Street, Innerleithen