19 AUGUST 2000, Page 26

From Mr William Ballantine Sir: Allan Massie mentions the Bavarian

Option, i.e. the setting up of an autonomous party, as a possible route forward for Scots Tories to help solve one of its problems — its perceived lack of Scottish roots and identity.

A radical step indeed, although only in one sense. When it was genuinely popular, it was seen as a separate entity — the Scot- tish Unionist party, becoming Conservative and Unionist in 1965.

One cannot, of course, go back in life, but something needs to be looked at seri- ously — and quickly. On a first-past-the- post basis, the last two elections have been wipeouts!

William M Ballantine

Bo'ness, West Lothian