EVERY vote counts, but some votes count more than others. It’s a sad fact of first past the post that votes cast in a “safe seat” are statistically worth less than those cast in swing seats which are more likely to change hands. It’s the main reason that systems like the additional member system, which we use for the Scottish Parliament elections, and single transferable vote, which we use for the council elections, are much more democratic.

What this means is that your activism is worth more in these swing seats.

So if you’re wanting to maximise the SNP and therefore pro-indy majority in this General Election, you should target campaigning to these seats which are in danger of changing hands:

JOANNA CHERRY, Edinburgh South-West
CALLUM McCAIG, Aberdeen South
JOHN NICOLSON, East Dunbartonshire
STUART DONALDSON, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
RICHARD ARKLESS, Dumfries and Galloway
STEPHEN GETHINS, North-East Fife
ANGUS ROBERTSON, Moray
TONI GIUGLIANO, Edinburgh West
ALEX SALMOND, Gordon
EILIDH WHITEFORD, Banff and Buchan
STEVEN PATERSON, Stirling
JIM EADIE, Edinburgh South
GEORGE KEREVAN, East Lothian
TASMINA AHMED-SHEIKH, Ochil and South Perthshire
OWEN THOMPSON, Midlothian
PHIL BOSWELL, Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
ROGER MULLIN, Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
BRENDAN O’HARA, Argyll and Bute
CHRIS STEPHENS, Glasgow South-West
ANGELA CRAWLEY, Lanark and Hamilton
East KIRSTEN OSWALD, East Renfrewshire
CALUM KERR, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
MIRIAM BRETT, Orkney and Shetland
MÀIRI McALLAN, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
CORRI WILSON, Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock

If you’re looking for the best way to put the brakes on Theresa Mays plans and to ensure Scotland’s voice is heard, then get yourself out and campaign for the marginal seats closest to you. Extra campaigning there could be enough to tip the scales and make sure that the people of Scotland will have MPs who will fight against the disgusting policies of the Tories in government, whether it is their pension cuts, Brutal Brexit obsession or the abhorrent rape clause.

These elections will play a huge part in determining how well placed we are to make sure Scotland’s interests are heard in the Brexit negotiations and to ensure we get a second independence referendum to give the people their say on a final deal.

So get out in your constituency, get out in these key seats and let’s show the people who is Stronger for Scotland.
Alex Kerr
SNP Youth Glasgow Convener

RUTH Davidson should take a look at the immigration situation in reality (Ruth Davidson ‘all over the place’ on Tory immigration policy, The National, May 27). An illegal immigrant comes to south-east England, and after dumping his papers and passport he starts working illegally in the black economy, paying no taxes. His chances of being found and deported are practically zero.

Contrast that with a family coming to Scotland legally, investing their life savings in a local business and working all the hours they can to make a successful life here, but due to Tory austerity not quite reaching their business target. They will soon be experiencing the trauma and publicity surrounding the entire family after being told to go or be deported like criminals.

They will be thrown out of one equal partner in this precious union by the UK Government immigration department, while the Scottish Government, parliament, local authority and community stand by watching, forbidden by law from helping the family.

No wonder Scotland is having difficulty getting immigrants to settle here.
John Jamieson
South Queensferry

FURTHER to John Edgar’s letter wondering what is so precious about our union, could some politicians please be clear about what they are referring to when they say “our country”?

Europe is not a country, it is a Union. Britain is likewise a union, be it ever so sacred and sanctified by some, and not a country. Not so long ago in atlases the United Kingdom depicted the four members of our union with their flags and capitals. Nowadays in modern prestigious atlases the UK is shown as a country with London as its capital.

Similarly when asked online for my country, the only choice is the United Kingdom.

When did this happen and who was responsible for it?
Richard Easson
Dornoch

IT would appear that the Tory Party is so certain that they have lost their case that they can now only advocate a “fightback” against Scottish nationalism , patriotism and individuality. If May and Davidson had their way, be in no doubt they would redraw the UK map with their too obvious objective accomplished.
John Hamilton
Bearsden

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May was lamentable as Home Secretary

I LISTENED to the phone-in programme on Radio Scotland on Friday morning.

It was clear that there is a lot of public disquiet and criticism of failures by Theresa May during her time as Home Secretary.

It was during her watch that the authorities were told that Salman Abedi was a security threat.

It is clear that there were not the resources to follow this up.

Meanwhile, May was at war with the police service in England; ruled the Home Office with an iron rod; reserved all key decisions for herself and oversaw a dramatic cut in police numbers.

In other words, her record as Home Secretary was lamentable.

It was nothing short of a failure.

We now have a Prime Minister that has made U-turns an art form.

The Tory slogan “strong and stable leadership” is a meaningless.

It is as disingenuous as their other one: “Brexit means Brexit”.

As for her acolyte here in Scotland, she was interviewed on Good Morning Scotland on Friday morning.

And I think the best way to describe Wee Ruthie is as someone who is suffering from “hyperbolastic assumptionism”.
Charlie
Berwickshire