Majority view

Your editorial (3 September) stated that the SNP could claim a mandate from the electorate for the timing of a plebiscite on separation. I disagree that any such mandate was gained.

Only about half the electorate voted in the last Scottish election and the SNP gained only a minority of those that bothered to vote; just over a fifth of the electorate actually voted SNP.

A majority of seats were acquired by the SNP because Nick Clegg joined the Conservatives in a Westminster coalition government, thus ensuring the Liberal Democrat vote collapsed and the Labour Party sat on its hands assuming that power would drop into its lap by doing nothing.

Would we accept that the TUC had a mandate for a national strike if it received supportive votes from just over a fifth of its members?

If a plebiscite on separation is taken, I and many others would only regard the outcome as legitimate if a clear majority of the electorate actually vote for it. It would not be sufficient simply to gain a majority of those that voted.

(Prof) ANTHONY TREWAVAS, FRS

Croft Street

Penicuik, Midlothian