LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Union’s demise may come sooner than later

Sir, – The election is over, the people of Scotland have voted and democracy has been the winner.

Our first past the post system has delivered a stunning SNP victory sweeping all before it.

Let’s look at the figures so no one is in any doubt what the result means regardless of any spin the losing parties may put on it.

Of the 59 Westminster seats in Scotland the SNP were successful in 48 seats or approximately 80%. In second place came the Tories with six seats ( 9% approx).

In third place was the Lib Dems with an approximate 6.5% share of the vote and in fourth was Labour.

In the first past the post system this result, by anyone’s standards is a landslide of epic proportions for the SNP and a total humiliation of the also ran Parties.

Regardless of the result down south, Scotland has overwhelmingly rejected Brexit and re-affirmed its Remain credentials.

It is now a country that is outwardly European in its outlook and a bastion of social democracy for all the citizens of the UK, Europe and the rest of the world to see and digest.

Never before has an election shown the deep chasm between Scotland and England in terms of outlook, political and social policy.

As a nation we are all but independent and as we move forward the chasm will widen as both nations travel in different directions.

England is moving to an inward -looking state hankering after past glories with a Conservatuve Party with a large Westminster majority free to pursue an unbridled right wing agenda never seen before in these islands.

With the addition of the Lib Dems and possibly Labour votes Scotland is now 88% a Remain country, in sharp contrast to the now Brexit dominated England/Wales.

This total polarisation will have real consequences for the “precious Union”. In fact it may over time prove to be the death knell of the so-called UK.

With the nationalist vote in Northern Ireland now in the ascendency, the future of this United Kingdom looks more and more at risk.

Depending now on what the Tories do with their unbridled power, the demise of the union may be sooner rather than later.

Dan Wood. Charles Melvin Gardens, Kirriemuir.