Letter: Unfair votes

John Palmer
Monday 31 August 1998 23:02 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: Lord Parkinson asserts ("Right of Reply", 26 August) that "Independent research suggests that our electoral system is more proportional than any form of PR." Did that research cover the result of the 1951 general election in which Labour received most votes but the Tories won more seats and formed the government? Or the 1974 result when the Tories received most votes but Labour won more seats and formed the government? Or even the 1997 general election when the Liberal Democrats got 13 per cent of the votes in Scotland and won 10 seats, against the Conservatives' 17 per cent of Scottish votes but no seats?

The looming anti-PR alliance between the Conservatives and Old Labour is interesting. What is not surprising is the reactionary attitude of the Tory Party. They opposed the last major electoral reform - votes for women.

JOHN PALMER

Waterlooville, 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