I AGREE with the concise judgment of Richard Morris (Letters, April 17), when he says that " first-past-the-post is no longer fit for purpose".
I feel that the only place where this system still has validity was in last weekend's University Boat Race. Proportional representation in Westminster is clearly the way forward for a fairer and more equitable representation of our political wishes.
The Coaition Government we have been experiencing is no more than the triumph of expediency over an out-dated design of how we select our representatives. What is critical however is which type of system should be the replacement for our multi party UK elections. I view the system employed for Holyrood elections, the so-called additional member system (AMS) as bizarrely complex and ineffective. Additionally, it would be folly to copy it as it was not expected that the current situation of the SNP in Scotland having such a huge majority could be statistically probable; yet it has happened.
There has been much talk of the public attempting to be smart and use tactics in their voting power but I expect that the public have always placed their bet on a strong party which they felt was in with a realistic chance of winning. I suspect that this has largely been responsible for the Labour /Conservative government oscillation since the end of the Second World War.
We need a system where smaller parties are encouraged to be heard and do not feel that they have to feed off the crumbs dropped from the top table. The challenge seems twofold. Our politicians must be convinced that change is urgent and vital. This will be no easy task as it is tampering with wellestablished power bases.
Secondly, it is to independently determine the most appropriate formula for deciding on the form of a new system, from a diverse range of types, of better proportionality in our representatives parties. This latter decision must be informed by both studying examples currently operating successfully around the world, of which there are many, and also historic failures.
Bill Brown,
46 Breadie Drive, Milngavie.
BASED on comments on your Letters Pages (April 17) it does appear long-standing supporters and new converts alike would welcome a UK proportional representation (PR) system. It is the SNP surge which has occasioned many to the reality of the future political landscape.
Considering the SNP have consistently supported PR those who now feel disenfranchised by the forecast tsunami change in Scottish politics should be relieved. Many will recall the single transferrable vote (STV) form of PR was introduced to Scottish local unitary authority elections eight years ago. Many had reservations about the need for multi-ward representation. It appears to function well. It certainly embraces a broader spread of political representation than would otherwise have applied. The early introduction of a fairer PR (preferably STV system) is a priority for many regardless of personal political choice.
Allan C Steele,
22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock.
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