Imagine you are a political party totaly opposed to proportional representation and circumstances force you into coalition with a party where Proportional Representation (PR) is the absolute priority.

What would you do? Agree to a referendum on PR, then very subtley, undermine the coalition until the electorate are thoroughly fed up. At the same time, make sure it looks like the other side are causing the problems.

At this point you announce the PR referendum and campaign against on the grounds of “I told you so” , “we only did it for the good of the country”, “coalition doesn’t work etc”. Follow this quickly with a General Election and game, set and match. Back to “strong government” or unaccountable government. It could not happen here, could it? In politics nothing is ever what it seems.

C Urquhart, Millfield Road, York.