Just how long has the Union got after these results?

Sir, – The Scottish people have, once again, shown, in the local council elections, their strong approval for the SNP and their clearly stated intention to have, in the next couple of years, a referendum on independence.

The Conservatives have lost 62 seats, whilst Labour have gained 19, but the SNP have, yet again, increased their lead on both.

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland the success of Sinn Fein, a party which supports the unification of Ireland, has set the cat among the pigeons, winning 27 seats to become the largest party, the first time a non-unionist party has achieved this since the formation of Northern Ireland 100 years ago.

In Wales the nationalist party, Plaid Cymru, now controls four councils and a large swathe of the rural parts of the country, quadrupling the number of councils under their control. The Conservatives have lost control over the only council they previously had overall control of, whilst Labour holds eight councils, down one.

So, where does the Union go from here? Clearly the people of Scotland believe that they are best governed by the Scottish party and have shown this consistently for all of this century so far. In Northern Ireland, for the first time since the country was founded, a party which does not support the Union has garnered the highest number of seats.

And in Wales, the

Conservatives have been given a drubbing and their Labour accomplices have also lost ground, with the Welsh party the clear winners on the night.

Only in England do the unionists reign supreme, Conservatives most of the time, with an occasional Labour interlude to remind the rich and powerful of what they don’t like.

How long has the Union got? Les Mackay. Carmichael Gardens, Dundee.