The Scottish parliament, a hothouse of class hatred, ethnic resentment and economic illiteracy, has just passed a bill designed to give crofting ‘communities’ (a ‘crofter’ is (very roughly defined) a tenant – traditionally a smallholder or other agricultural worker – on a large Scottish estate) the right of first refusal to buy ‘their’ land when it comes up for sale. In itself there’s nothing wrong with that – so long as the price is a market price – but what is unacceptable is that, under the new law, the ‘community’ can compel a sale even when the landlord doesn’t want to sell.

Other provisions will increase the access of hikers, ramblers and other (uninvited) visitors to tens of thousands of acres of privately-owned land.

What is it about the notion of private property that the Scottish parliament doesn’t understand?