In the Scandinavian interest
Sir: Frank Johnson writes (Leading article, 3 August) that Sir Peter Hall yearns 'for London as the capital of some Scandina- vian ... welfare autocracy'.
Probably Sir Peter does not, because he wrote on 6 July ('When Enoch Powell recruited blacks') that Britain, though racist, was richer than countries like Swe- den and Denmark 'that have protected themselves from the influence of others'. (Funny to hear that from what was for decades considered the most parochial country in Europe.) For some reason Peter Hall thinks there are no Jews or Huguenots, etc. in Scandinavia, or that we keep them out of sight.
As it happens, I agree that England is a more interesting place than Denmark. I have lived in both, and England is where my heart lies, but it is not because Den- mark has kept other people out — a physi- cal impossibility in any case.
But, dear Mr Johnson, it is beginning to look as if The Spectator is simply using Scandinavia as a convenient metaphor for anything boring or narrow-minded.
Agnete Kay
344 Woodfield Place SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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