Danger to Scottish politics

development in Scottish politics. While these are undoubtedly the work

of demented cranks, and since threats are hardly new in public life,

there are some who say that they should be simply dismissed.

However, when one realises that they have appeared at the same time as

the increasing profile of anti-English organisations like Settler Watch

and Scottish Watch, I believe that we have reason to be concerned. Along

with stories of English-born residents being hounded out of Scotland it

adds up to a feeling that the civilised climate which used to

characterise the Scottish political scene may be in some danger.

It must now be the duty of all Scottish politicians to make it clear

that anti-English sentiment should be as unacceptable in our land as any

anti-black and anti-Jewish sentiment. Only by outlawing completely from

the Scottish political vocabulary the pillorying of the English or any

other nationality will we rescue ourselves from the putrid quagmire

appearing in London's East End and on the continent.

There will, I suppose, be those who will excuse the recent attacks on

certain members of the Commons Committee on the Local Government Bill

for being English rather than for being Tory. But there is no doubt that

the constant repetition of these attacks, with the emphasis always on

the ''English,'' has fuelled and given respectability to the prejudices

of the lunatic fringe who need only a minimal encouragement to pursue

their odious campaigns.

I am as patriotically Scottish as any Nationalist but I see pride in

our country as being positive and attractive, cherishing as it does that

atmosphere of political debate which hitherto has been robust but also

decent and civilised. If any party leadership, for any short-term

advantage, should encourage the baser instincts of a tiny minority then

it will be to do the ultimate disservice to the people of Scotland we

seek to serve.

George Robertson,

House of Commons.