Super-majority

The referendum is widely hailed as having been a good example of democratic process.

However, there is surely something wrong where a minority group, the Scottish electorate, a single elector even, had the power to destabilise the entire United Kingdom in the event of a Yes victory.

Such a victory could have “detonated an economic time bomb”, as now recognised by George Kerevan (Perspective, 24 September). Many people would indeed agree with him that “Britain had a near-death experience”.

Consequently, it would be reckless to agree to another referendum of this type. However, if the folly were to be repeated, central government may need to consider prescribing safeguards to protect the wider 
interest.

One such safeguard could take the form of a super-
majority provision requiring, say, a two-thirds or three-quarters approval threshold, instead of 50 per cent + 1.

Arrangements of this type, although rejected by the Scottish Government, are used in many countries where fundamental change is involved.

Peter Bolton

Hillview Terrace

Edinburgh