Letter: Colonial take

David Roche's view of Scotland as an English colony (Letters, 3 September) is an interesting perspective. Down here, as we emerge blinking from the darkness of the Scottish Raj, we read that RBS is to cut 3,500 jobs in England, while moving some to Greenock and Edinburgh.

RBS was, of course, the subject of a massive recue by UK taxpayers who now own 84 per cent of it. Coincidentally (or not) 84 per cent of UK taxpayers are resident in England. If the English are colonial exploiters we obviously aren't very good at it.

I can agree wholeheartedly agree with Mr Roche on one thing though. Cut Scotland loose? Bring it on.

James Matthews

Great North Road

London

HAVING listened to a vitriolic diatribe on the BBC's Any Questions on 20 August, aimed at the decision to release al-Megrahi, but obviously serving as an excuse to blast Scotland's aspiring reclamation of nationhood, I endorse the comments of David Roche.

I thought for a moment I was back in the days of cinema newsreel when colonialism among the natives in the far corners of the world was portrayed as a beneficence from heaven.

I could almost picture the more condescending panellists wearing tropical clothing and seated beneath a line of parasols held by dark-skinned indigenous inhabitants while they, the district commissioners et al, dispensed the routine pronouncements of superior knowledge and practicality.

And there was indeed the obligatory hand clapping as well. Our First Minister was ascribed Mickey Mouse politician status by one such panellist, and there was hearty applause to a panellist urging dismissal of all Scottish politicians, mentioning Blair and Brown among these.

Indeed, had the broadcast contained verbal assault of like kind against English people, and not Scots, I reckon there would have been repercussions not wholly contained in a letters column in The Scotsman.

Ian Johnstone

Forman Drive

Peterhead