Reform key if Cameron wants Scottish vote

On one hand, there is no doubt that David Cameron is a decent man gamely attempting to drag the Scottish wing of his party into the 21st century. On the other hand, the old prejudices of his Scottish party appear stubbornly resolute, where anti-European feeling is endemic and support for further powers for Holyrood is lukewarm at best.

Furthermore, the claim that "every Conservative vote counts" rings hollow, as in most Scottish seats they lie in fourth place, or a poor third. Cameron should look at genuine electoral reform for Westminster and introduce a system whereby every vote really does count. Secondly, if he is serious about engaging with Scots voters, he should modernise his party and rid it of the influence of the "backwoodsmen" who have held his Scottish party back for decades.

Finally, his party should recognise that an independence referendum is inevitable at some point over the next few years and accept that Scottish independence is the "settled wish" of a large number of Scots and a logical and rational choice which has nothing to do with the film Braveheart. In short, he should stop patronising Scottish voters.

GAVIN FLEMING

Webster's Land

Grassmarket, Edinburgh

With 59 MPs and 129 MSPs making 188 national politicians for around 5.1 million people in Scotland, it means that we pay for one elected politician for every 27,000 of the population. England has 533 MPs for a population of around 50 million, meaning 93,000 support each MP.

It is disappointing to hear that while David Cameron is intending to reduce the number of MPs, he is not intending to reduce the number of MSPs. Even taking into account the House of Lords and their contribution to Westminster, Scotland is still very overgoverned.

The US, with a population of 305 million, has 100 senators and 441 representatives and the presidential staff meaning that there are fewer elected politicians than the United Kingdom.

Even with a two-chamber system, we do not need more than 100 politicians and with government split between Westminster and Holyrood, the Scottish Government does not handle all the affairs of the country. Since our Scottish MPs have virtually nothing to do unless elected to office, could they not form a second chamber and monitor legislation to allow a cut in MSPs? Compared to other countries of similar size, we have far too many politicians.

Since it is reckoned that, with all the support services and staff, a national politician costs the taxpayer at least 600,000 per annum, cutting the total number of politicians for Scotland to much smaller numbers would be sensible.

With 30 MPs and 50 MSPs being nearer a more-efficient number, it would save about 60m per annum. It would also mean that there might be a rise in quality and competence.

BRUCE D SKIVINGTON

Strath Gairloch

Wester Ross