Letter: In search of electoral reform

Sir: Your leading article (20 April) on the Italian referendum says: 'MPs relied on the approval of their party bosses for their position . . . Their loyalty was to the party, not to the electorate. If they toed the line, they could be in politics for life. With all the powers of influence and patronage thus accumulated, they could build up a web of alliances with local businessmen . . .' How like our own dear system. Not, perhaps, with quite the spectacular level of corruption revealed in Italy, but a cosy club none the less.

I hope my Italian friends will make a change, but not to first-past-the-post. That will only entrench one party in power and do little or nothing to eliminate bribery and jobbery. A better option would be the single transferable vote in multi-member constituencies. That would give real power to the voters and take it from the grasp of parties.

Yours sincerely,

JOHN THOMSON

West Overton, Wiltshire