March 12.

Politicians should beware the boomerang effect of sporting analogies.

John Smith's ''Sack the Board'' was good for a laugh from a suitably

reverential audience but the board that needs sacking is not so much

that of UK plc as of the wholly-owned Scottish subsidiary.

In particular, Scottish shareholders should demand an end to the

pernicious self-preservation pact of 49 directors who have presided over

the destruction of our industrial base and the theft from Scottish

public ownership of major utilities over the past 15 years.

It's a racing certainty that the feckless 49 will refuse to commit

themselves to a mandate when next up for re-election, offering instead

the Labour Cambuslang of a subordinate Scottish parliament/ assembly

promised since 1945.

Gerald Quin,

9 McCall's Avenue,

Ayr.