I have always been under the apprehension that a democracy was where the wishes of the majority of the people were carried out by the goverment in power.

This does not appear to be the case in this country and has not been for more than the past decade.

Let us start with what the majority of the people want, bearing in mind this is what most people talk about.

First and foremost, get our troops out of Afghanistan, stop all immigration and send back all the illegal immigrants to their country of origin, especially those who have committed crimes in this country.

Make the punishment fit the crime and give longer sentences to serial offenders and make prison a place of punishment. It cannot be right when criminals have abetter standard of living than the average worker or pensioner. Stop this excuse that this is against their human rights, you lose them when you commit a crime.

The answer to these questions from a politician will be we cannot do that because the European courts say so. Well, tell the European courts that Britain belongs to the British and is not governed by the civil servants in Brussels, and to save any arguments get out of Europe immediately.

This will save billions of pounds a year for the Treasury and hopefully restore a true democracy to the British people.

Will they do it? I very much doubt it, because there is not a politician in the country who is brave enough to voice the opinion of Britain and I cannot see any on the horizon.

T J Ryder, Priory Gardens, North Lane, Dringhouses, York.