Sir, I am heartened that you advocate a vote for the individual parliamentarian rather than the party (leading article, April 25). This is a logical benefit of our constituency system and a policy I adopted for myself a long time ago, after despairing of the major parties.

This year however, given the dearth of a worthy local candidate, I will be voting tactically.

It is tempting to follow old instincts and vote against the traditional enemy, be it whingeing socialists or filthy capitalists. However, the outgoing Government has suffered disastrously from the lack of an effective Opposition. As a result it has been able, at whim, to experiment with the social, economic and democratic fabric, without any clear agenda. It has accrued enormous and dangerously unregulated power, which would now be passed on to any future government.

The most important thing an elector can do is to reduce the majority of the future government, whatever its complexion. To this end, for the first time in my life, I will be voting for one of the big parties — not to keep the other out, but to limit the majority of whoever gets in.

Yours faithfully,
STEPHEN EMANUEL,
The Old Rectory,
Drewsteignton, Exeter EX6 6QT.
April 25.

From Mr Julian Dare

Sir, To judge from your survey of Labour’s new candidates and their views on Iraq (report, April 26) it seems that a Labour victory in the general election would be achieved despite Tony Blair and not because of him. If there were such a thing as a presidential election in Britain, it seems highly unlikely that he would even be the nominee for his party.

Yours sincerely,
JULIAN DARE,
26 Russell Court,
St Margaret’s Road, Oxford OX2 6JH.
April 26.

From Mr Richard Steel

Sir, Even if Tony Blair was a liar, which seems a palpably dishonorable assertion in the light of the Attorney-General’s report, would the politician who has never been economical with the truth take the first stone, and cast it at the nearest sinner?

Yours faithfully,
RICHARD STEEL,
19 Arthur Street, Gloucester GL1 1QY.
May 2.

From the Reverend David Thomas

Sir, I am not going to vote for Tony Blair, Charles Kennedy or Michael Howard. I am going to vote for one of my constituency candidates. The trend towards presidential-style government needs to be curbed, and the facts concerning the Cabinet decision-making process given more media time and credibility.

The present folly is compounded by the constant cries that “he or she lied”, in the sense that promises were not kept. I elect a person to Parliament on the understanding that if, in the face of new facts, a previously given promise cannot be kept, he or she would act in the country’s best interests, be prepared to be judged on their actions, and not rigidly blunder on.

Yours faithfully,
D. THOMAS,
The Rectory, Hood Lane,
Armitage, Rugeley WS15 4AG,
April 28.

From Mr Dan Thompson

Sir, More than 160 Independent candidates are standing in the general election. However, they receive little or no serious media attention.

The Independent Network is a new organisation set up to support such candidates. We have 11 standing next Thursday. They represent a broad range of issues and are being welcomed in their constituencies as a fresh alternative — whenever they are allowed to get their message across.

Yours sincerely,
DAN THOMPSON,
(Executive, Independent Network),
6 Southwood Lane, N6 5EE.
May 2.

Explore Letters

• Feedback