JOHN Riseley is a little impatient when he expects consultation to have started by now on electoral reform (HAS, June 20). He must be aware that there are far more pressing matters at present.

Electoral reform was an issue Tony Blair tried to deal with shortly after he was elected as Prime Minister.

He appointed the Jenkins Commission, which recommended that in addition to a member for each constituency there should be a member for a cluster of adjacent constituencies and the second preference of voters in that cluster would have determined who the additional member would be.

This was rejected because there was then no wish inside the main parties for a new system that took away the advantages they enjoyed.

The proportional representation system I am most opposed to is that which we have for the European Parliamentary elections. That is the party list system which, to my mind, gives far too much power to the political party machines.

The consultation that needs to be introduced is one which will involve a great deal of preparation and an electorate which is more informed about the options that have been tried in other countries.

Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.

I AM very much in favour of electoral reform and change to the outdated political system.

I do, however, wonder – after seeing the resignation of a junior Treasury minister, who did not enter Parliament until the last General Election and who has announced that she will not be standing again, and a Labour MP who was not elected until a by-election after the last General Election, and who is not going to be allowed to stand again – who is going to fill their shoes?

There may not be enough selfless people who are uninterested in personal gain and pleasure to become MPs.

The new politicians could be very dull party hacks who are even more out of touch with people than today’s politicians.

David Cameron appears to have eliminated the gentry from the Conservative Party. The gentry, or grandees, have always been a moderating influence on Tory governments in the past.

The prospect of a Tory government without the influence of the grandees and in the hands of right-wing young Turks I find frightening.

Peter J Brown, Middlesbrough.