Letter: Democratic Keys

Sir: Bill Clinton's claim that the United States has the world's oldest democracy cannot be supported by the facts.

On a visit to the Isle of Man some years ago, I clearly remember being told that the annual House of Keys parliamentary meeting at Tynwald was the oldest such gathering in the world. It was claimed to be older than Iceland's Althing.

Yours faithfully,

GORDON SMITH

Chester City Council

Chester

22 January