Paul Scott, author and former director of the Saltire Society: ‘It’s not anti-English prejudice’

‘I THINK it does matter. We’ve got a vigorous cultural tradition in Scotland. An essential qualification for a job of that kind in any of the cultural organisations, should be that people can display a knowledge of the Scottish tradition in the field concerned, whether it’s literature or painting.

If you come to Scotland knowing nothing whatever about the Scots language or the Scottish tradition in poetry or drama, that’s a risk.

Scotland is a poorer country, a smaller country, and so the English have naturally got a good conceit of themselves. The National Theatre of Scotland director, Vicky Featherstone, is one of the people who have been prepared to look at the Scottish tradition and take it seriously. Unfortunately, you can’t say that of all of them.

We are not saying they should all be Scots, but they should be people who know and appreciate the Scottish tradition. It would be pretty obvious for any other country other than Scotland. The Canadians, by and large, insist on their own tradition being respected.

It’s not anti-English prejudice. It’s not anything of that kind. It’s merely saying that Scottish promotion of the arts in Scotland by Scottish Governments should be handled by people who know and appreciate it. This is an important point, actually. If a country is trying to promote its own culture, it should have people who understand and appreciate it in the positions concerned, making decisions.”

l Paul Scott was educated at the Royal High School and the University of Edinburgh.