NOW that we are in the depths of a Westminster election, electing our representatives to debate and pass judgement on what is the single biggest issue of the past six or seven decades, is it time to question the first-past-the-post system?
In effect, all that is needed is a majority of one in all of the 650 parliamentary constituencies. That ridiculous situation is good for nothing. It leaves an awful lot of disenfranchised voters – potentially 49.999999% of the voting population.
It’s a crazy system! Especially when by all accounts it seems feasible that external influences, social media and questionable foreign governments seem to be able to exert a disproportionate outcome on democratic results.
The United States has an even more doctored system – the wining candidate at the last election had millions more votes, but lost the electoral college!!!
Is it time that Westminster reformed to a more proportional representation system?
Currently 40 out of 43 European countries vote on PR systems. Is it yet again just another example of colonialism and empire that Westminster knows best and can’t be told by anyone that better and more representative election voting systems exist?
Self-protection of the ruling class seems impossible to dislodge. But we’ve got to try. At least Scotland will send a clear message to mother of parliaments yet again.
Dougie Gray
Dunbar
THERE is absolutely no point in anyone complaining to the BBC about its prejudiced attitude towards Scotland and its SNP politicians. We all have to accept that the BBC is the propaganda arm of the English establishment and will never allow Scotland “the oxygen of publicity”.
There also seems little point in SNP politicians appearing on any politics or news programmes where they will be treated with disrespect, constant interruptions, and even have their words deleted from the broadcast edition.
The BBC always has a risible excuse for its “mistakes”, and never corrects them on a later edition of the same programme, so they stay in the public conscience. This is no oversight.
Perhaps it would be more productive if SNP candidates addressed voters directly via social media and in public spaces – and The National of course.
Richard Walthew
Duns
A MINOR correction to Monday’s letter from Nick Cole. He wrote that the Treaty of Union was signed after a referendum of sorts, 300 years ago. There was no referendum, but a meeting of the Scottish Parliament where certain representatives, suitably bribed, voted for the Treaty.
There were riots in the streets, and the Treaty was signed in a cellar.
One factor, not noticeably publicised, was that there was an English army on the Border, ready to invade if the Treaty was not signed.
The Scottish Parliament was abolished, but the English Parliament just continued, which is why we have these antiquated rules and titles. To show this, the late Oliver Brown quoted the Lord Privy Seal, who was neither a Lord, a privy, nor a seal.
Jim Lynch
Edinburgh
I’VE absolutely no time for English fanatic David Starkey and his glorification of English history. However, unlike Hamish MacPherson I agree with his statement about poppy fascism (Scots VC winners who never saw their medals, November 12).
Just look at the media, especially the BBC. Every man, woman and if they could get away with it child must wear a poppy. It’s not voluntary; they are provided with and expected to wear it with aplomb.
It isolates good, reasoned, intelligent and sensitive people from making their own decision.
The presence of the “elite” royal family, politicians etc (the very people who encourage the build-up to wars), the very people who shed crocodile tears, is an anathema to the unfortunate soldiers who lost their life during conflict.
The history of the British Army has been tied up with the British empire, which is tied up with oppression, mass killings and exploitation.The role of the military, especially during internal conflict, has been to defend the establishment.
Many “anti-poppy” people believe that war is a complete waste of good innocent young life, creates an arms race, and exposes the hypocrisy and failure of our so-called leaders. When you look at the money wasted on armaments, trident and all the unseen costs, it beggars belief that that the injured/disabled still rely on charitable funds to eek out an existence.
The splashing of medals across the chest does tend to signal glorification. However, when soldiers are interviewed after conflicts like the First and Second World Wars its often stated loud and clear their distaste of fighting and killing other humans.
Make no mistake: the ruling class motive to have these events must be judged by history, and to my regret while we bow to subservience and obedience to our “leaders”, history will have the knack of repeating the same mistakes.
D Gill
Kinross
LIBDEM Christine Jardine on Good Morning Scotland yesterday said: “You cannot tackle climate change as a small entity – it has to be an international approach.” So apparently we live in a small entity now. For a small entity, Scotland’s renewable sources provided an equivalent of 74.6% of Scotland’s gross electricity consumption in 2018 and Scotland’s net electricity exports rose from 12,868GWh in 2017 to 24,379GWh in 2018, almost doubling. I am proud of my small entity – Christine Jardine should be too.
Alasdair Smith
Eastwood
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel