Letter: Labour props up elective dictatorship

Sir: Yesterday I believed that the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights was one of the reasons why a Blair government might be preferable to a Major government. Today I learnt ("Labour looks less liberal as power looms", 18 December) that, under Labour, when judges discover a breach of the convention all that will happen is that "consideration will need to be given by the government of the day and Parliament as to what action should be taken". This is boringly similar to the words of the old royal veto: "The King will take thought of it."

The purpose of constitutional reform is to control an elective dictatorship whose power has got out of hand. Constitutional reform undertaken without this motive is no more than better dressing of a shop window. It remains true, as Alan Beith said in 1991, that the Liberal Democrats are the only party willing to come into power committed to reducing their own power.

Earl RUSSELL

House of Lords

London SW1