An Edinburgh Notebook
SIR,—No doubt many of your readers will have shared my pleasure in Mr Ludovic Kennedy's account of his nostalgia on revisiting his childhood haunts in 'Edinburgh Notebook' (September 2). However, like many newcomers to Scotland, Mr Kennedy has slipped into a trap that has even claimed some worthy Scottish Nationalists. Knowing how he would hate to be guilty of permanent deception, I hasten to correct his statement about Conservatives in Scotland in relation to his advocacy of a Scottish Parliament.
In the first place, the party label 'Unionist' in place of 'Conservative' has nothing whatever to do with the Act of Union between Scotland and England. The title originated some eighty years ago after Gladstone had _split the Liberal party over the question of Home Rule for Ireland, when the anti-partition group broke away from him in a powerful body, known first as 'Liberal Unionists' and later as 'Unionists.' Secondly. the 'Unionist' label was sensibly changed to 'Conservative' by the party in Scotland nearly a year ago.
How well I remember Mr Kennedy ten or fifteen years ago having 'not the slightest doubt' that there would be a Liberal majority in the House of Commons in ten or fifteen years' time. I hope for the sake of Scotland that his latest prophecy will be just as accurate. Home Rule for England would be a poor substitute for Scottish domination of the UK Parliament, as has been the case during many years of Conservative government when Scots- men filled so many of the higher offices of the land . . . and what a curious time to be preaching the gospel of parochial isolationism when so many forward-looking people and parties are propounding the virtues of the converse: namely, a closer union with Europe!
DALKEITH
Eildon Hall, Melrose, Scotland
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