Local democracy

IRRESPECTIVE of party beliefs to read “A very Scottish coup” from Highland council should be welcome (Your report, 30 May).

Often it is forgotten what bothered liberals like Tocqueville and Mill about the development of democracy.

The recent result in Scotland of 56 SNP MPs out of 59 should jog our memories.

Say for example this kind of electoral majority were repeated for Holyrood and then local councils. Quite legitimately and some would say democratically the system would deliver ­Tocqueville’s “tyranny of the majority”. Or what classic liberalism fears, namely through the ballot box the creation of an “elected dictatorship.”

Are a simple majority and the rule of law sufficient to define and guarantee that democracy works?

Arguably some thought needs to be given to the voting system and the devolution of power within Scotland.

Ellis Thorpe

Old Chapel Walk

Inverurie, Aberdeenshire