No end to referendums
From Mr Alan Pavelin Sir: You argue (Leading article, 19 October) that, because the Irish Republic has already voted No to the Nice Treaty, it is somehow undemocratic to run another referendum.
You seem to forget that there has been a general election since the No vote. Had the electorate felt strongly that there should not be another referendum, they would have voted accordingly (presumably a Green/Sinn Fein coalition). What would be undemocratic is if the No vote were binding for all time, whatever the subsequent changes of opinion.
A similar argument applies to the proposed euro referendum in the UK. If a No vote were to occur before the next election, parties would still be free to advocate a further vote in the next parliament (or even to adopt the euro without a referendum, which is not constitutionally necessary). What is undemocratic about that?
Alan Pavelin
Chislehurst. Kent
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