TWO groups exerted considerable influence during the referendum debate.

The old want to relive remembered glories and the young feel their futures threatened by withdrawal from Europe.

George Orwell once said of England, “It is a family in which the young are generally thwarted and most of the power is in the hands of irresponsible uncles and bedridden aunts”.

I fear it is much more complicated. Everyone has become heartily fed-up for one reason or another. The opportunity of creating chaos was too good to resist. The resultant shake-up means we face the greatest challenge since the Second World War. Only a common cause can restore order and unite us again as a team. Most importantly, we must give equal voice to all public concerns.

Can our present government undertake such a huge task? Its make-up is so unrepresentative of the electorate that it’s no wonder it’s led us such a dance. 37% of us voted Conservative and they received 51 per cent of the seats, 12.6 per cent voted UKIP and secured only 0.15 per cent of the seats, 8 per cent voted LibDem securing only 1per cent of the seats.

Westminster is no longer fit for purpose. It’s Members’ continuous search for absolute power corrupts us all. They use the public as their battleground, the media as their artillery and legislation to appease their slavering sycophants. We foot soldiers always end up paying the price for their luxury to do so.

It’s ironic that we need the freshness and imagination of a mere 17-year-old, (not considered by us ‘sensible’ parents and grandparents) old enough to express his views in the EU referendum), to suggest a solution which can bring us all together; take a look at makevotesmatter.org.uk/brexit-petition/ Despite my own age group appearing quite rightly to have lost its credibility, I agree with him entirely. We need to turn things around to everyone’s advantage.

There isn’t time for ‘sticking plaster’ management. An immediate General Election is essential before we stumble into an abyss of our own making. Proportional Representation is an absolute priority. First Past The Post can only continue to provide endless disappointment, acrimony and division.

Mike Joslin

Garfield Avenue,

Dorchester