Light relief

In these dark days of gloom and doom, one can always turn to The Scotsman’s letters page for a spot of light relief.

This was generously provided by C Lowson (Letters 5 April) who sees "resentment and vitriol” in pro-independence letters. Assuming this is not a spoof, then the misreading is breathtaking.

Firstly, the gap between resentment and vitriol is enormous. Scots might well feel ignored, patronised and frequently insulted by such as Boris, Rees-mogg et al. It seems to me that resentment is a fairly minimal response. As for vitriol, perhaps C Lowson might cast his eye over such terms as "weasely” and “gross inadequacy”.

As a non-aligned if admittedly cynical observer, I find the recurring charge of antienglishness to be verging on the sinister. Surely C Lowson knows that many of us have friends and relatives in England (we could also add Wales and Northern Ireland but for the fact that we are not dependent on them for independence or vice versa).

It is politically expedient to portray pro-independence people, including folk from England, as being anti English and with the weight of a predominantly right-wing press behind them it is a fairly simple task to attack “Sturgeon and to use this term as a metonymy for Scotland and Scots and hence to demonise those who can see nothing wrong or immoral in Scotland being independent and forging a much healthier relationship with England.

Finally, I agree with Alan Hinnrichs (Letters, same day) that Nicola Sturgeon has now become one of the biggest stumbling blocks to independence, having allowed Westminster to keep trotting out the weasely and grossly inadequate: “Now is not the time.” Hands up all those who trust Boris?

BILL SIMPSON

Carnoustie, Angus