Scottish empire

found that the new legislation “simply did not have the intended effect of reducing RTAS”.

The legislation however did have considerable success in damaging community life in Scotland by hastening the closure of pubs, hotels, golf clubs and other sports clubs

throughout Scotland, particularly in rural areas. The often derelict buildings and boarded up premises are the actual legacy. Truetoform,kennymacaskill dredges up the British Empire and the Irish potato famine in his hatred of all things British, (Scotsman, December 13).

Everything is the fault of the ‘British’ – that doesn’t include us Scots by the way, just the English – and let’s forget how we Scots actually created the Empire, shall we?

Mr Macaskill writes how the Irish potato famine “was caused by British indifference”. No, it was caused by potato blight.

He pulls some daft idea that Brexiteersare wantingtocreate ‘a Golden Age of Empire’. Really? What is he smoking?

Then he applauds our opponents for being ‘statesman-like’ – actually obdurate – when faced by a remain Prime Minister who doesn’t believe in Brexit.

She seeks to perform damage limitation, as she sees it, because no one in their right mind would want to leave the Eu,wouldthey?theresulthas been exactly what one would expect – a mess.

However, rather than analysing the realities of the situation Mr Macaskill, like his party, is stuck in the 19th century.

But, if he wants to know the realities of Scotland and the British Empire, just think of Glasgow’s riches gained from the tobacco trade; Dundee’s from the jute trade; Scotland’s engineering wealth built on making the ships and the steam engines that powered and protected the British Empire.

Let him consider the Scots military men who won the Empire and defended it and us, like General Sir John Moore, Admirals Cochrane and Duncan; Sir Colin Campbell; Chinese Gordon; Haig

and Dowding. Let him who is without guilt cast the first stone.

ANDREW HN GRAY Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh