Boris Johnson is a nationalist, so why does he use the word as a slur?

On the one hand, this is simply petty schoolboy behaviour, name-calling. But perhaps he genuinely thinks that “nationalist” identifies an affliction affecting only others.

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My point is that his party frequently acts and speaks in a way that is nationalist (“This great country”; “We’re better than that”, etc; the entire Brexit project). When the Prime Minister sits in front of TV cameras flanked by Union flags – each tucked very carefully to display England’s St George’s cross, leaving the other symbols near-unreadable – he is being nationalist.

British nationalism is nationalism too. And – if the Prime Minister’s perspective is to be applied consistently – a British nationalist party such as his own is also a nationalist party.

Professor Aonghus MacKechnie
Edinburgh

HAVING much more spare time at present than ever before (I have no social media facilities of any kind – I am “old school”), I have been giving thought to political developments outwith Scotland and possible influence on our independence campaign.

I think we can correctly state that what is happening in our country at present is an idea whose time has come, which is a most powerful force.

The struggle to achieve self-determination and reclaim our independence is certainly taking place in a broader political or social setting UK-wide. There are factors under way and ready to erupt nationwide which will possibly have an impact on our fight.

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In Wales there is growing awareness that a necessary requirement for the betterment of its people is full control of its future and destiny, and that they are in reality a nation.

In Northern Ireland there is an awakening to a fact amongst the Unionist community that they are not really considered by Westminster to be British at all. We will have to await the full dawning of that truth (soon to come) to witness how they react to it.

Alongside the above is the drive by the nationalist community for the reunification of Ireland. Interesting times in that province.

In England – especially, though not exclusively, in its northern regions – there is a developing attitude, though it’s always been underlying, beginning to take greater form that despite the “levelling up” talk of the Johnson administration, in fact they are a secondary consideration.

The other stratas of that nation who have bought into the myth that Britain – but to them England – can be great again are soon to realise that coming fast down the line to them is a disastrous Brexit, and it’s not what they imagined they were voting for.

Everything is further exacerbated by the incompetent handling by Johnson’s government of a pandemic that has caused so many deaths.

That is the UK political, social and economic context in which our independence fight will soon be under way in full and without shackles. It also means that the Westminster establishment will be under pressure on several fronts.

To us it is favourable circumstances and conditions that did not exist in 2014’s referendum period, and they will be a key factor in the winning of a Yes vote.

This makes it even more imperative and essential that we maintain firm and disciplined unity of purpose in all the various and diverse parts and elements of our movement.

Bobby Brennan
Glasgow

I AM one of the 45%, and I remember the arguments that bounced back and forth in the lead-up to the 2014 referendum.

An oft-voiced piece of nonsense, which the No camp chorused, was “what currency will you use?”

During a televised debate between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling, Alex was confronted by this question. He did not deal with it well and Darling went on to shout the “what currency?” mantra over Alex’s responses. It became, despite its lack of veracity, an effective cannon shell for the No camp to fire.

We see today the Westminster/Whitehall establishment using a shell out of the same ammunition box, with their “once in a generation” line as argumentum ad infinitum.

My request, then, is aimed at any and all members of the Yes camp, of whatever political background and status, to challenge this each and every time it’s voiced by an opponent! Alex Salmond said “once in a generation” because he was indicating the prevalence of chance and opportunity, not policy!

Please beware of the failure to challenge. Johnson is already parroting it ad nauseum and the Yes/No vacillators are sponges to soak this up for the want of a ruthless rejoinder! Stop letting him and his gang get away with it. It’s costing us support!

Ned Larkin
Inverness

I ENJOYED Bill Ramsay’s letter (December 15) and agree with what he wrote. You can’t join Nato though if you have an active border dispute, so the issues of Berwick and the Debatable Land would have to be resolved before membership could be considered.

Coinneach mac Raibeart
via email

SORRY, Alan Magnus-Bennett (Letters, December 15), but I tell it as I see it. Do you honestly think the Tory government has built Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh and has lined up 3000 English civil servants to man it because they want it to be a pretty place for tourists to visit?

READ MORE: Letter, December 15

I hope I am wrong, as you think. If I am then I'll put in a letter of apology next year and even buy a Scottish passport. But I won't be buying one of the English ones we will all need come January 1.

Charlie Kerr
Glenrothes