IN WHAT is (for me) a rare moment, I find myself partially agreeing with Mr Enticknap insomuch as that the BNP should not have any real power.

What I will not agree with is the method.

If I have understood his letter correctly, he is saying that the present voting system, while not being perfect, does keep the extremist parties at bay and out of real power; but then he adds the little line "the Tories polled more actual votes in the last General Election than Labour".

Surely, this is exactly the reason that we should have a fair voting system. A proportional system would prevent the present situation where the country swings from left to right every few years.

The extremist parties as well as mainstream parties would then have to prove that they could be trusted and that their policies were the best, whereas at the moment all you need is the vote and you do not have to prove anything.

We can vote for whoever we choose, but surely it would be true democracy if those votes actually turned into seats in Parliament.

Finally, I would like to add that I am not a member of any political party that is standing or ever will stand in York, and I have no axe to grind with any party that does stand in York. I base my voting on who I think will do the best for York or the country as a whole.

Dave Barker,

Constantine Avenue,

Tang Hall,

York.

Updated: 09:50 Monday, April 24, 2006