Any Holyrood reforms should include the voting system

IT would be hard to disagree with Lord McConnell’s submission to the Holyrood Commission that “the immediate thing to do is to strengthen the role of the backbench MSP and create a culture where they know they are there to represent their constituents” (“MSPs must put constituents above party loyalty, stresses McConell”, The Herald, January 16). He also says that “backbenchers should be encouraged to give their first loyalty to the parliament and their constituents, not their parties”.

With the best will on the world, how are MSPs supposed to know and pay attention to what their constituents think? More than half of them are elected by first-past-the-post, which on average struggles to represent half of those who vote in the constituency. The remaining list MSPs “represent” party supporters in constituencies so large that one wonders if they ever speak to constituents.

“Encouragement” and “culture creation” are empty words. The only way that will work is if the electoral system ensures that MSPs communicate with their constituents and if they don’t, they are removed at the next election. The Single Transferable Vote (STV-PR) method of election is the only one available that can do that and which puts all MSPs on the same footing. This method was specified in the manifestos of three parties that together have a majority in the Parliament. Why don’t they get on with it and change to STV-PR in time for the next election? Thomas G F Gray, 4A Auchinloch Road, Lenzie.

THE waterfall at the Loup of Fintry, in the foot of the Campsie hills, in late afternoon. get the desired effect. I used my Canon 5D Mark III - 24mm, ISO800, 52 secs. I used a strong ND filter to enable a long exposure of 52 seconds to