Forget first past the post – for once, every vote counts

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Voters queue up to cast their ballot in the EU referendum (Getty Images)

It has been more than a generation since the majority of the current UK electorate took part in a referendum. Since then, I'm pretty sure a huge amount of the eligible electorate has felt totally disenfranchised by our anachronistic first-past-the-post system, where in some areas even a cactus could be elected to Parliament if it was decked out with the right coloured rosette.

This week’s vote is different from all the sub-democratic elections we hold for Parliament. We are not counting up the constituencies that vote "remain" and comparing against the constituencies that vote "leave" to determine the winner. We are counting every single vote for "remain" and comparing it with every single vote for "leave" (wherever it was cast in the UK) to determine the winner. For once, every vote counts.

Phil Rolandi
Address supplied

Now that the referendum campaign, with its abysmally poor level of debate, is over, I fear we may be in for a period of “I told you so” politics. Whichever of the sides loses the vote there will be a gleeful response to any bad news relating to the outcome. If the Remain side wins, any negative publicity for the EU will be greeted by cries of “I told you so”, and if the Leave side wins the same will be said when any adverse consequences of the vote become apparent.

Gordon Cropper
Barnet

As a lapsed member of the Labour party I naturally relish the blue-on-blue discord likely to be a feature of government whatever the outcome of the referendum (I write as the result is unknown). But for Labour-leaning folks the outlook is equally unedifying.

Do we proudly support a party that seems to think social justice is best left delegated to the European project, rather than fighting for electoral credibility at home? Alternatively, are we happier with a wing of the party standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Cameron and Osborne with their phoney renegotiations and economic forecasts? Can someone create a new social democratic party please?

Glyn Jones
Ottershaw, Surrey

If the UK still wants to continue to trade within the EU, whether we leave or remain, it will have to abide by its rules. So, for example, if the EU decides all milk should be coloured pink and all member states agree on this, then all EU countries will have to produce pink milk if they want to sell milk to EU member countries, though they may have their own rule for their own countries.

If the UK leaves, we have no say and have no veto over having to produce pink milk. If our farmers want to sell milk in Europe, it will have to be pink. But if we remain, at least we have a say and can veto this (rather strange) trading deal. As it stands at least the UK won't have to produce pink milk, or we could give our opinion on the matter – that to sell white milk is more sensible – and hopefully win over the other states to the disadvantages of pink milk. A simplistic view, maybe, but is the crux of the EU trading agreements

Look at Norway and Switzerland: they are not members of the EU, but to trade with member countries they have to pay into the EU and abide by the vast majority of its conditions. Yet they have no say or veto over what those conditions are. If they want to sell milk in the EU, it will have to be pink. If the UK leave (as I write, I do not know the result) this is what will happen to the UK. That is why the Norwegian Prime Minister urged the UK to stay.

Simon Hill
Lenault, France

From my 35 years in business, when one party tears up solemn agreements, the reaction of the other party is: “Good riddance and goodbye."

William Haines
Shrewsbury

As we consider the future of the European project and put our crosses onto paper today, perhaps we should bear in mind the 279 Commonwealth soldiers who died on June 23rd 1916 – and the others on all sides who died with them.

Emma Jones
Oxfordshire

Surely David Cameron should never have allowed this referendum. Given the extreme views within his own party he should have had an inkling of the divisive effect it would have on the country. It is yet another example of poor judgement. Win or lose, he should go.

Mark Sawle Thomas
Address supplied

The founding fathers of the United States could never be called quitters. They were splitters – which was, and is, worse.

Richard Walker
Malvern

Water supplies to the West Bank

Jewish and Arab residents of Judea and Samaria must deal with the summer demand for increased water flowing through a system already functioning at capacity. Nevertheless, Israel has scheduled increased water for Arab communities during the evening when individuals are no longer fasting and hence desiring water. Areas of religious significance drawing crowds of worshipers during daylight hours, such as Hebron and Bethlehem, also received extra water. It would be befitting of a news outlet to better research facts before seizing a biased opportunity to pounce on Israel.

Benjamin S. Yasgur
Address supplied

Observant Muslims don’t drink water during the days of Ramadan. At night, when they break the fast, Israel increased the water supply. So why does a “news organization” only tell less than half the story?

Gerry Moskowitz
Address supplied

Go vegan if you object to Yulin

Eating chickens, cows, pigs, lambs, and fish is no different to eating dogs in China. Dairy cows and egg-laying hens are also treated just as badly as the “meat’’ animals we eat. The only way to stop inflicting suffering and death on animals is to go vegan.

Mark Richards
Brighton