Letter: Power to Lib Dems

David Cromwell
Wednesday 23 September 1998 00:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: It is hard to avoid the conclusion that the system of electoral reform being suggested would appear to be more to do with ensuring that the Blair/Ashdown pact continues to maintain a majority for the foreseeable future, rather than offering a radical electoral system which is fair and proportional.

As you rightly claim, the political differences between the two leaderships are becoming hard to distinguish and it would seem only fair to offer the electorate an opportunity for their votes for an alternative, such as the Green Party, to actually mean something. Lord Jenkins has already stated that his proposed system will still allow a party which receives less than 50 per cent of the vote to gain a majority - a rather perverse definition of the term "proportional".

The proposed new system, which is unlikely to be put in place before 2006 - if at all - will guarantee extra seats for Liberal Democrats and yet deny the Conservatives more than they have at present. At the same time, even if 15 per cent of the electorate choose to vote for the Green Party that proportion of the electorate will still be denied any representation in Parliament.

DAVID CROMWELL

Green Party

Southampton, Hampshire

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in