Letter: Nationalism in the Home Counties

Sir: Andrew Marr ("Beef isn't the burning issue", 7 May) notes that withdrawal from the EU would "represent the triumph of a style of conservative English nationalism" and rightly suggests that this would probably lead to the secession of Scotland from the UK.

The nationalism he identifies would be more accurately described as south- eastern English nationalism; its underpinning is the City financial complex and the aptly named Home Counties. It is resented not only in Scotland but also in Wales, the north of England and the West Country.

This sort of nationalism is likely to lead to the disintegration of the British state itself.

Simon Partridge

London N2