LETTER: No wonder that turnout is so low

Those of your readers who have managed to maintain the enthusiasm and stamina to follow the Scottish Referendum over the past weeks will undoubtedly have come away with the clear impression that a vast swathe of the Scottish electorate has spoken at the ballot box. With a record turn-out of well over 80 per cent, few can deny the enthusiasm of ordinary working people to express their feelings in this the most important vote of their lives.

Like him or loathe him, much of the credit for galvanising the Scottish people into voting must go to the leader of the SNP - Alex Salmond. He may have lost the vote but he trusted the people - many of whom had never voted before in their lives. Also, he had the good grace to resign his position as Scotland’s first minister and party leader immediately on hearing the result. Credit - where credit’s due!

In sharp contrast, the devious manner in which our local affairs are managed - by a cabal of Tory cabinet members acting without a passing thought for the views of their electorate.