SIR - I would like to add my support to Philip Bird and Jason Smith (T&A, May 15th) regarding whether England exists.

Quite obviously England does exist as a physical entity, but in political reality we are just a part of the UK.

Scotland has its own Government, as do Wales and Ireland, but the Parliament in London is one for the UK.

This to some may be a trivial point, but the erosion of identity for English people is one of the reasons political parties like the BNP gain votes and credibility. Can we fill in official forms and say we are English? No, we have to tick the UK box.

Being proud to be English does not mean that you are a racist or a fascist and loving your country does not mean you hate everybody else's.

Having cultural identities makes us what we are and respecting our different cultures and countries, I believe makes better relations than by denying that they exist.

David Chapman, Meadowbank Avenue, Allerton