Fourway split

BRIAN Hunter’s argument (Letters, 9 June) is yet another example of an SNP supporter unable or unwilling to accept the clear result of the referendum.

Mr Hunter says basically that we were conned into voting No by “scaremongering” and “dubious promises”.

I know of no-one in my wide circle of friends, acquaintances and relatives who were so influenced. All could see that the SNP’s claims on the economy, the currency and European Union membership were, at best, unjustified and more likely downright and dangerously wrong.

Moreover, the promises made hastily (by Gordon Brown) were unwelcome and unwanted by most in the “No” camp.

Mr Hunter may quote as many surveys as he likes but we have ample evidence of how inaccurate they often are and to claim a swing from 45 per cent to 59 per cent for the Yes vote is, frankly, nonsense.

As for the recent general election proving Mr Hunter’s point, I dispute this strongly: the SNP’s share of the total available vote in Scotland was actually less than in the referendum, at 35.5 per cent against 37.7 per cent.

Fewer than one eligible voter in three voted for the SNP and the Nationalist winner in my constituency of East Lothian was elected by less than one in three of the total electorate, in common with virtually all the seats the SNP won in Edinburgh and the Borders.

Winning 56 seats was due, for sure, to significant support but the prime reason was that the Yes voters stuck with the SNP and the No vote was split three or four ways. Such is the insult to democracy that the first-past-the-post system delivers (and even the SNP agrees with this).

So, Mr Hunter, perhaps the UK has not “had its day” after all.

David K Allan

Mainshill

Haddington, East Lothian