Sir – I did not like proportional representation when we had the election for the European Parliament.

The area covered was so vast and I didn’t know much about the candidates, especially the minority parties.

Maybe for a very large area in Europe it doesn’t matter too much, votes go to particular parties rather than to people.

But unless the area was quite restricted to a smaller bit of the country, it could be confusing for people who are used to electing an MP from their own constituency.

For that reason I would very much prefer the Alternative Vote System, which concerns one constituency and allows you to give a second choice of vote to someone you wouldn’t mind having as your MP.

As a leftward-leaning Lib Dem, I would happily give a second vote to Mr Stevens, the Labour candidate. But no Tory would ever get a vote from me.

So I’m not happy about coalitions, especially this one.

To quote W.S. Gilbert: “When in the House MPs divide, if they’ve a brain and cerebellum too, They have to leave their brains outside, And vote just as their leaders tell ‘em to.

“Because the prospect of a lot of dull MPs in close proximity, All voting for themselves is what No man can face with equanimity.”

I rather suspect Mr Cameron may eventually face this prospect.

Eileen Davies, Oxford