The Scots language advocate Billy Kay has caused a richt stooshie wi’ his thochts on Unionists and their lawte tae the kintra. The writer and broadcaster mused on a podcast from The National: ‘One strand that has practically disappeared, I think, is Unionists who were patriotic Scots…Because of the rise of modern nationalism I think that brand of Unionism almost has died a death. I don’t know anyone like that nowadays. I knew people personally from some of the old Tory families that I came across when I was interviewing people. They were all very patriotically Scottish, but they were Scottish Unionists, and they belonged to a tradition.’

Some Unionists find today’s Scotland difficult to love and some nationalists feel the same about yesterday’s Scotland

Some Unionists find today’s Scotland difficult to love and some nationalists feel the same about yesterday’s Scotland

His reflections have not been well-received, with some Unionists objecting to the implication that they are less patriotic than their nationalist brethren. Fraser Nelson writes: ‘I’m not sure I know a single Unionist who doesn’t regard himself or herself as a patriotic Scot,’ before adding: ‘Concentric identities are the beauty of the Union,’ which is a very Fraser thing to say – beguiling yet fluently expressed – but drains all the mystique and majesty from an institution which was the author of world history for much of its three centuries. If the real Union is the pluralism we facilitated along the way, it’s no wonder ever fewer Scots identify with it.

Fraser is right in one sense; almost all Unionists consider themselves patriotic Scots, and Kay’s implication to the contrary is unfortunate for various reasons, but one in particular should concern........

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