IRRESPECTIVE of which way one voted last Thursday the stark fact is both north and south of the Border there are millions of people who value a United Kingdom and EU membership now facing the potential of separation and federalism.
The rhetoric of an SNP-Labour pact in the lead up to the election caused further fear and resentment in England and ironically was the key factor in delivering a Conservative victory. The majority of people in Scotland want to be part of the UK - I also believe the majority want to remain key stakeholders within Europe. How is it then this silent majority have become so unrepresented in our parliaments? In the interests of social stability and democracy we must find a better electoral system than first-past-the-post.
Robert Gemmell,
14 Bramble Wynd, Port Glasgow.
THE fact that the SNP gained 50 per cent of the Scottish vote and won in 95 per cent of Scottish constituencies points to the necessity for proportional representation in elections to the House of Commons.
As for the Liberal Democrat losses in Scotland, it was obviously a mistake to depend on tactical voting instead of presenting the LibDem case positively and attacking the SNP directly.
However, Liberals can take some comfort from what Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman said after the Liberal losses in Scotland at the 1900 General Election: "Now that we have dried our clothes, and washed the salt out of our eyes, we mariners, survivors of the storm, can communicate with each other in peace."
After all, it is only 10 years since the LibDems outpolled and won more constituencies than the SNP in Scotland. Further, the Scottish Liberals managed to recover from having only one MP between 1951 and 1964.
Dr Alexander S Waugh,
1 Pantoch Gardens, Banchory.
BILL Brown's frustration over his favoured candidate, Jo Swinson, garnering 36 per cent of the vote but losing to an opponent with 40 per cent is difficult to swallow (Letters, May 9).
Has he only now discovered the unfairness of the first-past-the-post voting system? Did he display the same frustration in 2010 when his choice won the seat with 38.7 per cent while the Labour candidate's 34.1 per cent was consigned to the bin?
His disdain for the voting habits of the public in choosing parties rather than personalities is obvious, but this is nothing new. The great wartime leader, Churchill, was turfed out of office by that same ungrateful public in 1945 who chose party over personality . So Jo Swinson is in good company.
James Mills,
29 Armour Square, Johnstone.
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