Letter: Our national wealth was squandered

Sir": What Pascal Smart and millions like him obviously have not considered by refusing to vote ("I'll not vote - it won't change a thing", 18 March) is that they can register their feelings of having no faith in any of the parties in a simple manner: the spoilt ballot paper. Non- voters leave no mark in history. But they could turn up on 1 May, collect their ballot papers and mark them: "I have no faith in any of these candidates."

The spoilt ballot paper records an opinion. It is a statement that will be published in every newspaper following the results. It is better to vote for nothing than not at all.

JONATHAN BEDFORD

Leeds