THE average number of votes needed to elect an MP is striking different between parties in this election.

With the same voting power as 100 Conservative voters, you would need 115 Labour voters, 455 Lib Dems, 1250 Greens, but only 65 SNP, 68 DUP, 79 Sinn Fein, and 95 Plaid Cymru voters. 525,000 Green votes secured only one MP, while 590,000 UKIPers got none.

Some form of proportional representation is adopted by most Western governments, including Germany, and by the European parliament.

Many of these PR systems avoid the problems that many people associate with them too many minor parties, back-room deals, lack of decision etc.

They can be made to work.

Shouldn’t we be clamouring for better representation, to ensure that everyone gets the franchise?

Why can’t the mother of all parliaments start representing the people?

With the prospect of a coalition between the Conservative government and the loathsome DUP, whose policies will shock most decent Tory voters, and a second election in October on the books, now is the time to insist that the disenfranchised section of the electorate get a meaningful vote.

Sam Wilberforce

Mill House, Lower Puncknowle