SIR – The Scottish independence vote was interesting not for the result itself, but for the factors behind it.

The refreshingly high turnout to vote, bolstered by lowering the eligible voting age, was unusual – except in parts of the world where the electorate are voting to depose tin-pot dictators.

Most UK elections, local or national, make a Garnier hair care survey appear comprehensive and authoritative in terms of the numbers that actually vote.

The reader may want to make up his own mind about any parallel between this government (elected by a minority of the population, some might even say by a minority of those who voted, such is the effort that goes into constituency boundary eugenics), that willingly and unapologetically inflicts hardship on the poorer sectors of the community rather than solving a financial deficit, first and foremost by taxing those able to pay (by and large those responsible for the mess in the first place), and tin-pot dictatorships. The Cameron government should not take the Scottish vote as an endorsement of its policies.

The Scots have given hope that should those eligible to vote at the next general election do so in like numbers, this cosy, established Westminster cabal will be no more.

A Waterhouse, Barmby Road, Undercliffe, Bradford