Did the Scottish Nationalist Fall into a Proportional Representation Trap?

[straz]

It is nearly impossible for a country that uses PR to have a majority government. Is this what Labour have done in Scotland to maintain the Union? The SNP is the only main party that wants independence so they would fine it very hard to get a coalition partner to agree to an independence referendum.

[geofbob]

If and when an absolute majority of the Scottish electorate wants independence, then they will also be in a position to vote in an SNP Government, even with PR. Surely, the current position is that there is no absolute majority in Scotland for independence or the SNP. (Incidentally, I wonder how the UK electorate would vote if there was a referendum on allowing Scotland to stay in the Union.)

[geofbob]

Tartanwizard, Sorry about the word "allowing"; but surely, if you believe in democracy, you couldn't object to the principle of the UK electorate (inc the English) having a say in the composition of the Union, including the question of whether there should be a Union at all. Alternatively, how about the English electorate having a referendum on whether England should go it alone, similar to the referendum you want in Scotland? (Let me stress that I'm not advocating such referenda - I support the current Union - but just indulging in idle speculation.)

[geofbob]

Tartanwizard, Please read my previous comments again. You will see that I have not said one word against the Scots having a referendum on independence. Nor was I suggesting that their freely expressed wishes should be over-ridden by a UK/English referendum. If and when the Scots vote for independence, then so be it.

[Spellmaster]

P

[Spellmaster]

Sorry, hit the submit button accidentally; I'll start again. Please don't take this the wrong way Ned Flanders, but I presume all those superfluous apostrophes in plurals are there to goad me, not because you genuinely think they are required?