SNP does have clear mandate

Sir, - Your correspondent Allan Sutherland seems to hate democracy and suggests the SNP have no mandate for another referendum.

May 2016: the SNP run for the Scottish Parliament on a manifesto of a second independence referendum, if there is “a significant and material change of the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against our will.” The SNP won for a third term no less.

June 2016: the UK narrowly votes to Leave the EU but 62% of Scots elect to Remain, triggering the “material change of circumstances”.

March 2017: after various Scottish Government proposals allowing Scotland to stay in both the UK and EU are thwarted by Theresa May, the Scottish Parliament passes a bill for a second independence referendum by a majority of 69 to 59.

May 2017: the SNP publish their manifesto for the UK election which states that “if the SNP wins a majority of Scottish seats, that would complete a triple lock (on the referendum), further reinforcing the democratic mandate which already exists”.

June 2017: the SNP win 35 out of 59 Scottish seats, a clear majority. The mandate is thus triple-locked.

May 2015: Tories win on 24% of the eligible vote and 37% of the actual vote but this was deemed good enough for an EU referendum. In 2017 the Tories look for a double-lock for Brexit and end up with a hung parliament.

Rod Selbie. 45 Silver Birch Drive, Dundee.