When I decided to vote at the recent Parliamentary elections, it was in the hope (well one must hope) we might see the establishment of democracy at last. I define a democracy as a nation having a constitution approved by the majority of people. Is that what we are going to get, I wonder?

Fixed-term parliaments seem a good idea, but scarcely an advance in democracy. In fact, since it is coupled to the assumption that people approve of five-year parliaments, it is anti-democratic.

Optimum lengths for parliaments has never been subject to debate. Under the present dispensation, although theoretically parliaments might last so long, they rarely did.

The Founding Fathers of 1776 thought a four-year term was long quite enough, even for George Washington.

What characteristics do Dave and Nick demonstrate that we should entrust them with a year longer?

William Dixon Smith, Welland Rise, Acomb, York.