IF THE General Election has taught us one thing, it must be that proportional representation for all our elections is urgent.

Critics of apathy and tactical voting should recognise that the system is to blame and not the electorate. A proportional system would remove the concept of a 'wasted vote' and ensure that politicians could no longer take their 'core vote' for granted, nor could they ignore the large proportion of the electorate who happen to live in a constituency that is regarded as a 'safe' seat.

Now that Tony Blair has secured a second term, let's see him use that security to re-awaken interest in our democracy, not let it wither under the onslaught of globalisation and the ever-growing power of big business.

Andy D'Agorne,

York Green Party,

Broadway West, York.

Updated: 10:55 Wednesday, June 13, 2001