Polling rethink?

The Scotsman’s editorial hit the nail on the head (‘Turbulent times may demand change’, 23 July). The tribalism which has engulfed British politics can hardly be overstated – and while the Brexit debate is one part of it, the problem is made worse by a voting system that concentrates Westminster into two huge clans.

As the paper suggests, it’s one of the reasons we must replace Westminster’s outdated ‘winner-takes-all’ system with a system of proportional representation where seats match votes and voters can always opt for their first-choice party.

Proportional voting systems – like that used for Scottish local elections or Holyrood – mean politicians are required to listen to all voters, not just those in a handful of winnable swing seats. And it encourages working together – reaching across the divide to secure policies supported by the majority.

The Scotsman is right: introducing a fair voting system for Westminster would be a significant step and a giant leap for democracy. To see the benefits, you only have to look at the diverse representation on councils across Scotland, or the dynamic multi-party debate in politics and compare them to Westminster.

The truth is that change is long overdue if we are to prevent the slide towards a hyperpolarised politics. A voting system that favours pluralism over one-party dominance is the way forward.

WILLIE SULLIVAN Senior director, Electoral Reform

Society Scotland