26 APRIL 1968, Page 30

Das System

Sir: Nigel Lawson, in his note to my letter (19 April), says the advantage of introducing the British system of election into Germany _ would be that one of the big parties would get a majority in the Bundestag. But, under the present proportional system, if one party is supported by a majority of the voters it is bound to get a majority of the seats (which, incidentally, it might fail to do under the British system). So, what Mr Lawson is asking for is that one party should be placed in control of the country even though the majority have voted against it.

Is that really the sort of democracy we want to export to Germany?

Enid Lakeman Director, the Electoral Reform Society, SW1