Nationalists’ constant failure

Sir, – Your correspondent Mr Ken Clark (November 16) seems to be perpetually confused in attempting to interpret my views and opposition to nationalist movements that seek to fragment and disrupt democratic sovereign states.

The failure of those who support nationalist causes is their inability to show what the future benefit would be to the democracies infected with the scourge of nationalism, should the secessionists have their way.

Mr Clark seems to look at the world through rose-coloured glasses and to largely ignore the lessons of recent history in respect of the outcomes of nationalist movements.

They have all failed to deliver on the promises made to populations who wake up to find that the reality falls far short of the ideal.

It is unclear from where Mr Clark gets his idea of “Post-Brexit English Nationalism”.

He probably means post-Brexit British nationalism, ie patriotism to the UK as a democratic, sovereign state in full control of its borders and laws.

He forgets that the SNP persuasion towards Scottish independence failed, and not everyone in Scotland voted to remain in the EU; certainly not those in my neck of the woods who have traditionally earned their living in the fishing industry, largely decimated in this part of Scotland due to overfishing under EU regulations that many foreign trawlers ignore.

One would think, from reading Mr Clark’s choice of comment, that we have been living in a Zimbabwe-style dictatorship, always discriminated against by the dastardly English, even though we have representation in the Westminster Parliament that could be so much more effective for Scotland if it were only used properly and positively by Scottish MPs. Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.