Divided kingdom

I was interested in Colin Wilson's comments (Letters, 9 April) about the term "United Kingdom". Mr Wilson is wrong in his assertion that the phrase "United Kingdom" could be used when Scotland leaves the current union.

The phrase "United Kingdom" refers to the uniting of the kingdoms of Scotland and England. No Scotland means no United Kingdom; the six counties and Wales are not relevant. .

The use of the term Great Britain would also defy logic, as England, Wales and the six counties form no more than 50 per cent of the British Isles.

In the matter of the current union flag, this consists of the Scottish saltire defaced by the crosses of St Patrick and St George.

England and its appendages would have no reason in either logic or heraldry to retain the Scottish saltire in its flag.

As a sovereign state, England could naturally have any form of multi-coloured bunting that it wished as its ensign.

R MILL IRVING

Station Road, Gifford

The continuing debate about the ethnic constitution of Scotland, the correct name for Britain and the visibility of flags has little bearing on the future of Scotland.

Andrew HN Gray (Letters, 9 April) is partly correct in stating that the people in the south-east of Scotland are descended from Anglo-Saxon settlers.

Mr Gray may like to inform those people that, by his logic, they are English, the people in southern England are French, the islanders are Norwegian/Danish and those in the the west of Scotland are Irish.

Colin Wilson (Letters, 9 April) has already had enough! He has decided to take his ball home and call himself a "southern" Briton.

His description of those with whom he disagrees as "arrogant" is hilarious.

BILL McLEAN

Rosemill Court

Newmills,Dunfermline