Not for us
Sir: The long, strangely incongruous list of members of the National Committee for Electoral Reform given in the 'Notebook' of last week seems to show that what might be crudely termed the 'social democratic establishment' feels the harsh winds of change blowing about its ears, occasioned by the possible election of a truly Conservative government under Mrs Thatcher and by the reality of government by a Labour Party virtually under the control of its left wing. So once again the culturati and pundits rally to tell the British people what is good for them.
Therefore, sir, may I be allowed to add a few arguments against this ever-growing tide of opinion in favour of electoral reform ?
Apart from the obvious ones that a child of six could see—such as the obvious instability of government that might occur— Italy is a case in point here—there is the belief that it will lead to so-called moderate government. Will it though ? Again, Italy is a case in point as their electoral system has not prevented the Communist Party coming within an ace of power. Anyway, how do these so-called 'moderates' know that the British people will vote the way they want ? Mr Powell was no moderate but look at his popularity with the people in general. Once again the British people are being told what is best for them—whether they like it or not.
The reformers may point to Sweden and West Germany, but, as Angus Maude said at the last Conservative conference, Sweden may be the sort of society Mr Roy Jenkins would like us to have, but who else wants it ? Or they point to Germany, but do not con sider that its stability and moderation may be a result of national experience as much as anything else. Having suffered for twelve years under a dictatorship of the ultra-right and now having on their doorstep a totalitarian state *of the left they have understandably set their faces against extremism from either side.
Lastly surely it is arrogant to assume that because a system works in one country it will in another—this is something Conservative advocates of electoral reform might remember, as every Conservative philosopher since Burke has pointed out, that all times and places are different and that abstract systems imposed from above do not work.
N. C. Hayes County College, Bailnigg, Lancaster
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