SIR, Well he would, wouldn't he. Robin Walker that is, rubbish the case for a fairer voting system. Because the present 'first past the post' allows the Conservatives to grab more seats than the electorate voted for.

With just 37 per cent of votes cast in the recent election, the Conservatives took over 50 per cent of the seats in Parliament. This is as much a betrayal of the electorate's wishes as is the single seat won by both the Greens and UKIP.

First past the post can produce other anomalies as well.The SNP won only 47 per cent of the votes cast in Scotland, but over 90 per cent of the seats they contested.

Proportional representation would have left the SNP as the single largest party in Scotland, but more (slightly) unionist MPs would have been returned-representing the views of Scottish voters.

Nor do I agree with the view that PR will break the bond between MP and constituents. We have multi-member Wards at local government level and, set up with a PR voting system, in the devolved assemblies in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast. Similarly in European elections.

It is also useful to reflect that the Mother of Parliaments returned not one, but two, MPs per constituency to the House of Commons for more than 500 years of its existence - a form of PR (despite what we would see as flaws the numbers and gender allowed to vote). Single member constituencies were only introduced in the late Victorian period with the last two member constituencies were not abolished until well into the 20th century.

In fact, members of the public may be more inclined to seek out an MP if they have a choice and are able to approach one closer to their own political views.

LIZ SMITH

Oswestry