MR G M Stowell (Letters, April 29) praises first past the post elections for strong Government, but power-hoarding constitutions like the UK?s pre-1998 can lead to volatile public policy, like the railways being nationalised, then privatised, then state help again.
If you judge a company by its product then the railways being run by the power-sharing constitution of the Netherlands is far better.
You cannot blame the Lib Dems for wanting change when in the 2001 General Elections it took 26,005 votes to elect a Labour MP, it took 50,333 votes to elect a Conservative MP and 92,601 votes to elect a Liberal Democrat MP.
Having constituency MPs has also led to funds that should have come to the West Country being used in Labour heartlands like Scotland; the system means that Labour has nothing to lose if it upsets West Devon voters.
It is also a sad way to run a company when it is considered that 37% of the top management (the opposition MPs) have had a good day because they have cracked a few jokes for the cameras, and done absolutely nothing constructive. No-one of any value would want to spend five years like that. What other company but the British state would run like this?
Surely it is time that our house of representatives (constituency-elected MPs) was made the second chamber and we voted for a 23-strong cabinet (the Board of Directors) to run the Civil Service under proportional representation.
Bryan Gillard
4 Pound Park
Okehampton