McTernan opinion never fails to move

It is quite clear John McTernan's grasp of Scottish history is rather limited (Comment, 25 June). In his reference to the campaign to repatriate the 82 Lewis Chessmen, currently held by the British Museum in London, Mr McTernan describes them as part of the richness of "Britain's history".

This is rather peculiar given that these 12th century pieces were discovered on the Western Isles and are symbolic of Scottish-Irish-Scandinavian relationships. There is no rationale for them being kept on partial display in London.

While it is, of course, fantastic to see 24 of the London collection go on tour in Scotland, it is simply not good enough that they are occasionally loaned back to the Western Isles and at least some of this collection could feature as part of a display in the redeveloped Lews Castle or Museum nan Eilean on Lewis.

The economic benefit to the Western Isles would be immense, more so than the benefit garnered by their partial display in the British Museum and, with the UK coalition keen on promoting its "respect agenda" with the Scottish Government, the return of the Lewis Chessmen is a simple and effective way to promote this.

ALEX ORR

Bryson Road

Edinburgh

John McTernan has written some splendid articles since he was freed from his shackles as a Labour spin doctor. They have been incisive and witty and free of cant.

He has shown an independence of thought which would surely have got him fired from his old job.

Sadly in his article about Scottish attitudes today (Opinion, 25 June) he has reverted to Unionist form.

The United Nations' charter recognises the right of every nation to determine its own affairs. I assume your columnist supported that right in South Africa, probably also in the break up of the Soviet Union and when the Czechs and Slovaks decided to go their separate ways.

Why does he not support that principle in his own backyard?

HAMISH DEWAR

Craiglockhart Grove

Edinburgh

John McTernan gives a voluminous but biased view of Scottish history. Edward I tried to annex Scotland but failed. Would Mr McTernan stand up to a bully at the local or international level?

DONALD SCOTT

Glenorchil Crescent

Auchterarder

Worse than the examples John McTernan gives of the banalisation of political language was the deliberate echoing of Charter 77 in the naming of Charter 88.

The former was an organisation set up by genuinely brave dissidents, risking their lives and livelihoods, in a near-totalitarian gauleiter-run outpost of the Soviet Empire, Czechoslovakia, which had also suffered not long before under the German Nazi jackboot. To compare its status in any way with that of Scotland within the UK was an utter travesty.

JOHN BIRKETT

Horseleys Park

St Andrews