State of the Union
Sir: One did not expect Iain Martin (‘Unionist Gold’, 11 August), a former editor of the Scotsman, to turn up in the Spectator, still arguing against Scottish nationalism and promoting the union. So that is what the Olympics are about — waving the Union flag. Not for itself. We do not rejoice in other countries’ golds, only in those of Team GB. Ah well, I said farewell to the Scotsman and will do the same to the Spectator if we cannot have a slightly higher standard of debate. How about: why is it beneficial for all countries except Scotland, one of the oldest nations, to be nation states?
Helen C. Bovey
Edinburgh
Sir: I suppose it was inevitable that the success of Team GB at the Olympics would precipitate a desperate plea by a Scottish unionist that his compatriots should take note of the benefits of the Union. Am I the only Englishman sick to the back teeth with the representation of the unionist debate as if it were a choice solely for the Scots? Why does no English politician stand up for what is possibly the majority view (or if not, the view of a substantial minority) among the English and invite the Scots to ‘piss off’? Good luck to Mr Salmond, I say — I’m with him all the way.
Paul Goodson
Kent
Feeding fashions
Sir: My eldest child is now 39 and when I had her (in Greenwich Hospital) I had to battle to breastfeed her against the wishes of the NHS and society and with the disapproval of a close relative. Almost the opposite of the experience of Misti Traya (‘Breast beating’, 11 August), I was the only one on the ward breastfeeding and at feed-time the nurses insisted on bringing a bottle for my baby in case I did not have enough milk; in those days one was in hospital for ten days.
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