Letters: Constitutional change for a better life

Sir: It is most unfortunate that in a so called mature democracy a key element in a political leader's strategy is to set about creating anxiety amongst an electorate. The fact that this can happen in the UK to the extent that it does is because we do not have a clearly defined set of rules, usually called a constitution, under which change can be promoted with comfort.

What the Tories constantly fail to accept is that constitutional reform is not about constitutional nor electoral mechanics - it is about a new kind of politics to obtain a better quality of life and services to those we seek to serve ("Blair set for poll on political reform", 26 June).

Up to recent times it may be the case that without a written set of rules the British people had come to take the ruling order for granted. It is now clear that many have rumbled that all is not well with the state of Britain. The penny has dropped that we do not have the checks and balances that other modern democracies use to effect.

Whether it is devolution or a Bill of Rights people need to be comfortable with change. The Prime Minister shows time and time again with his language that he wants people to remain anxious towards change based upon their ignorance of the ways things are run. Tony Blair wants people to be comfortable with Labour's package of change based upon knowledge of why we promote change. There is no better test than setting out a stall and asking the electorate.

JEFF ROOKER

MP for Birmingham Perry

Barr (Lab)

House of Commons

London SW1