AS we reflect upon the outcome of the Brent East by-election what have we learnt?

First, that 64 per cent of the electorate could not see the point of voting because the sad reality is that there no point in voting.

Second, that 88 per cent of the electorate did not actually vote for the winning Lib Dem Candidate.

The conclusion? Maybe a drastic change is needed to reinstate the electorate's role in the governance of this country.

We cannot pretend any longer that the present system is still appropriate for our modern needs.

Political parties are outdated. The system requires they spend their time and effort fighting each other at the expense of the communities they are supposed to serve.

All are dependent upon financial backing from businessmen and others with vested interests and worse still, some MPs have totally forgotten their responsibilities towards their constituents, possibly in the interest of their own career development.

M J LEVINS,

Worcester.