The way the Yes Campaign

Has tried in recent months to deg­rade anyone who does not share its views has been disgraceful, but only highlights the fundamental difference between patriotism and nationalism.

I am patriotically Scottish and patriotically British and have no problem with that.Why should I? Patriotism is simply the love of one’s country, whether that country be Scottish, English, Welsh, Northern Irish or British. Indeed, after 300 years many UK families have an ancestry that qualifies them as patriots of more than one of these.

Nationalism, from the Scottish National Party to the English Defence League, adds to patriotism a “we are better than you” attitude when considering other nations, coupled with a consistent mistrust that “they” are out to nobble “us”.

On the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War and 75th anniversary of the start of the Second World War the grave dangers of nat­ionalism should be obvious. The attitude shown by Alex Salmond and his party tow­ards any opposition suggests future Scottish nationalism may also prove problematic.

Bruce Dawson, Lancashire