Bardic battle

Bardic battle Hugh Mackay (Letters, 31 January) produces a quotation from The Dumfries Volunteers to make a political point. He is, of course, in exalted company as Prime Minister Cameron managed to mangle a Burns quote in Westminster last week. Why does our national bard have to be used in this manner when he also wrote: “What are all the advantages which my country reaps from the Union that can counterbalance the annihilation of her independence, and even her very name?”. Can we call it quits?

Bill McLean

Dunfermline, Fife