Why has Corbyn ignored online voting in his digital manifesto?

Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Corbyn's digital manifesto promises to democratise the internet (PA)

Jeremy Corbyn’s call to harness new technology in political campaigning and enable greater ‘online democracy’ is very welcome and long overdue (Jeremy Corbyn promises to rebuild Britain with digital manifesto, 30 August).

It is, however, disappointing not to see online voting alongside other policy proposals in Corbyn’s digital ‘bill of rights’. In an age of secure online banking and tax systems, there seems no reason for the absence of online voting options other than a slow response by government to the changing needs of voters and a failure to keep up with technology which is used and trusted in many other areas of people’s lives.

Indeed, many governments including Switzerland, France, Australia and Canada are already helping voters securely and privately cast their votes. The UK is lagging behind when it comes to eDemocracy. In a world where the proportion of digital natives will only increase, the UK Government will face an imperative to provide cyber voting as standard. Providing a range of voting channels, including paper, postal and online, would enable each voter to exercise their democratic right to vote using the platform they feel most comfortable with.

Ian Brook Director, Northern Europe, Scytl

Tube Map

The walking tube map is great but how about one which adds the steps taken getting to and from the tube platform at each end. Often it seems that I walk further in the tunnels leading to the platform than I would simply walking above ground to the destination.

Alan Pack Kent

Rio Olympics

In response to Chris Geiger's letter concerning the Olympic successes, may I make the following points:

None of the GB Olympic medal winners have called themselves a 'hero'.

The Olympics lasted two weeks not two months.

The Olympic coverage represents 2 per cent of the BBC’s airtime over four years; there were numerous other channels to view for the fortnight if it was that bad.

Millions of people loved it.

Lots of people had friends and family involved in these competitions and quite rightly wanted to see their mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, nephews, nieces etc perform for their country on the world stage, possibly for the only time.

Lastly, I would like to add my own congratulations to the impressive achievements of our admirable GB Olympic Team. Well done to you all, despite the misery guts who would deny you your moment in the spotlight. Bring on the Paralympics, go GB.

John Schluter Guildford

Going vegan for World Water Week

Those of us who are concerned about the conservation of water and the planet's other resources should view World Water Week (28 August - 2 September) as the ideal time to start buying wholesome vegan foods instead of animal derived ones.

According to the US National Academy of Sciences, animal agriculture drains a third of the world's fresh water. It's undeniable that between irrigating the crops that farmed animals eat, providing billions of animals with drinking water each year, and washing away the filth of factory farms, transport lorries and slaughterhouses, animal agriculture places a tremendous strain on our water supply.

Producing one pound of beef uses as much water as about six months of showers. So as the world's water sources become scarcer, let's be a part of the solution, not just by taking shorter showers but by going vegan. PETA.org.uk offers a free vegan starter kit for anyone interested in taking the plunge.

Jennifer White London