Cameron should stop Cumberland

ALTHOUGH we live in an age of reconciliation, it is too soon to disregard the atrocities and the ethnic cleansing which took place throughout the Highlands and Islands after Culloden by erecting a statute to the man responsible (News, July 8).

Clearly Robert Davis, the deputy leader of Westminster City Council, which gave permission for the statue of the Duke of Cumberland to stand in Cavendish Square, is unaware of the sensitivity and strength of feeling that still exists. Does he not know the flower “Sweet William” named in honour of Cumberland’s victory, is called “Stinking Billy” in Scotland? Is he also unaware that no British army regiment today lists Culloden on its battle honours because of the shame they incurred?

Perhaps in the interests of improving relations between Scotland and England, Prime Minister David Cameron will advise the deputy leader to abandon the idea – after all many of his own Cameron family were treated as rebels and summarily executed on Cumberland’s orders.

Iain Thornber, Argyll