Letter: Battle of Britain

As a world-view, Dr David Purves's letter (21 May) is an interesting example of the denial of reality. Whether one accepts his contention that he had not heard of the United Kingdom until adulthood, or takes it as a pose for political purposes, it is stretching credulity to accept that the word, "British" is alien to his vocabulary.

I agree with him that most Scots are not "cringers" who lap up nationalist "New Speak" of the sort he uses. I am sure that they do not regard themselves as, "UKites" any more than I do. I have to admit that this is not a term I have heard before. Doubtless, it was forged in an SNP smithy.

Indeed, like most British people, both north and south of the Border, I was most unhappy with the Iraq invasion led by our then prime minister, Scots-born Tony Blair. However, the originator of this plan in the UK was Mr Blair, so Dr Purves should correct his attribution of blame to the Scoto-American foreign policy of that, second-last Scottish prime minister of Great Britain, not the "Anglo-American foreign policy" he blames for it.

Alternatively, he could learn the technical term for those who inhabit this island of ours, which is used by those who live outside the village he was brought up in, namely, "British".

ANDREW HN GRAY

Craiglea Drive

Edinburgh