Birthrights

The thrust of Andrew Gray's letter (30 June) is what determines nationality. This comes down to the distinction between jus solis (the law of the soil or country, ie one's birthplace) and jus sanguinis (the law of blood, ie inherited through one's parents).

The USA regards anyone born in America as an American citizen, whereas Germany bases citizenship on the child having a German parent. Since 1983, being British is no longer defined by being born here but by being born here of a British-born parent or a parent with the right to live here. Perhaps, in an age of globalisation, this is intended as a check on "citizenship tourism".

By contrast, the SNP embraces the concept of civic nationalism and would automatically confer Scottish citizenship on anyone who was born in Scotland or living there.

Those born outwith Scotland of a Scottish parent would be entitled to apply for this right. The SNP clearly does not regard citizenship as being a purely ethnic matter or limit itself to a citizen's birthplace.

As this is an age of social mobility, place of birth alone should not determine citizenship. A parent should enjoy the right to bestow their nationality on their child, wherever the child is born, and the child, if it is not only born in but grows up in a country that may not be their parents', should have the right to acquire citizenship of that land.

ERIC BROWN

Southborough Road

Bromley, Kent