Until the rise of the SNP, the Conservative and Labour vote in Great Britain (after Labour replaced the Liberals as one of the two main parties a century ago) was fairly evenly balanced, meaning that for voters to change the government was relatively easy. The old Ulster Unionist party in Northern Ireland was allied to the Conservatives and the SDLP to Labour, but usually their votes were not needed to provide one or other of the two main parties with a parliamentary majority at Westminster. As you say, if Scotland were to secede, then it would be that much harder for Labour to muster the votes to form a majority government, and if Wales followed, then it would be harder still. Even as things stand at the moment, Labour might well find itself relying on SNP votes to form a government, (which would inevitably mean the concession of another referendum) and who knows what other demands the SNP might make to provide that support.The loss of the majority of LibDem MPs following the coalition was regrettable in that it effectively eliminated them as an alternative partner for either of the two main parties. Much as I generally deplore the policies of the Labour Party, having a viable alternative government with a reasonable chance of gaining power is a vital part of our democratic system, and the loss of that balance would lead us into uncharted waters.
Richard Greenhough ● 2032d