When people vote in a democracy, they expect the result of the election to be 'fair.' Is this true in the UK and if not, why not? This book explains how our system of 'first-past-the-post' translates votes into seats and is essential reading at a time of unprecedented electoral uncertainty.

Johnstone's account is of the long-established families of the Dumfriesshire region of Scotland and, secondarily, of the so-called "Border Wars" which were waged from the twelfth century between the dominant Scottish families of South Dumfriesshire and the English in North Cumberland. Our reprint is from the important second edition, which contains an expanded chapter on the Border Wars. The author interweaves the stormy saga of Scottish-English wars, invasions, and intrigues with the fortunes and descents of the following principal families of the region: Armstrong, Baliol, Bell, Boswell, Bruce, Carlile/Carlyle, Carruthers, Clark, Corry, Crichton, Cummings, Douglas, Dunwiddie, Fergusson, Fleming, Gladstone, Gordon, Graham(e), Irving, Jardine, Johnstone, Kennedy, Kerr, Kirkpatrick, Laird, Maitland, Maxwell, Murray, Scott, Sharp, Stuart/Stewart, Trumble, and Wallace.