Missed the point

It was good of Mike Provan (Letters, 20 December) to write on behalf of the entire 
readership of The Scotsman who are apparently wearied by the “tiresome arguments” between Colin Hamilton and me. Can I offer my apologies to you all.

I think Mr Provan has missed the point that the letters pages are there to offer a forum for the wider dissemination of views.

However, I take exception to his central point. Mr Hamilton and I have had a number of ­debates, but they have been ­conducted in a generally ­civilised manner.

I respect Mr Hamilton and his views, which he presents well.

I wish I could say the same for Alexander McKay with his ­tedious repetitions about “the dark side of nationalism” and “one-party state where daring to hold an opposing opinion is an offence”.

Mr McKay (Letters, 20 December) claims I attacked Jim ­Murphy as a man. That is another distortion of the facts.

Mr Murphy is a politician who has now begun presenting ­himself as a radical social 
democrat, a position which is 
totally at odds with his past record.

That was my point and it was neither senseless nor personal, as can be witnessed by the 
analysis of him by Joyce McMillan (Perspective, 19 December).

And can I suggest to Mr McKay that the time to 
comment on Jim Murphy’s policies will be when he has ­announced them.

Douglas Turner

Derby Street

Edinburgh