I share Max von Thun’s hopes for a hung parliament in which the Lib Dems can nudge Labour away from its constant tack to the right (Britain’s political debate is lacking bold, radical policies. This is your moment, Lib Dems, 24 September).
But there is a fourth objective that he should add to the list of policies on which to negotiate an agreement. That is proportional representation, which is used for elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments and in varying forms throughout most other European nations. The objection that it risks empowering extreme minority parties can be remedied by setting a minimum proportion of national votes for eligibility for representation.
Kate Macintosh
Winchester
• I do not think that Max von Thun and other political figures are correct when they say that “the public might not be ready to reopen the thorny question of membership” of the EU. When giving out Rejoin leaflets in Holmfirth last week, the overwhelming response was “yes”. However, people do not think it will happen, because no politician or party is willing to lead the way. It’s a failure of our political system.
Stephen Dorril
Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
• Max von Thun decries “more than a decade of disastrous government under the Conservatives”. Mr von Thun may not remember, but no one else should forget that five of those disastrous Tory years were enabled by the Lib Dems voting for and providing intellectual heft to George Osborne’s austerity budgets, the core reason for the social, economic and political disasters we have endured and continue to endure.
Alex Gallagher
Largs, Ayrshire
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