Sir – Your leader (Cut councillors, November 18) raises some interesting ideas about the reform of our local councils. But you fail to mention the most fundamental reform of all. Reform of the voting system.
In the May 2005 county council elections, the Conservatives had 38 per cent of the vote but took 58 per cent of the seats on the council. Labour had 21 per cent of the vote but just 12 per cent of the seats and the Lib Dems had 29 per cent of the votes and only 23 per cent of the seats.
In 2009 it was no better. This time the Conservatives did even better with 43 per cent of the vote and a cool 70 per cent of the seats. Labour, languishing in third place again, won 15 per cent of the vote and just 12 per cent of the seats and the Lib Dems won 24 per cent of the votes but only 14 per cent of the seats. Something is clearly wrong where a council so manifestly does not represent its electorate. Cut councillor numbers by all means. But not before a more truly representative voting system has been introduced.
Colin Carritt, Woodstock
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