Power and fairness
Sir: A recent suggestion regarding multi-member constituencies implies that a distribution of seats in Parliament which exactly mirrors the number of votes cast for party candidates must therefore produce a fair result. But fair to whom? The smaller parties? Or to the disenchanted voter?
Fairness can only mean one thing — that all policies required by a majority shall always be carried out. Any system which denies the electorate this basic right can never be fair, hence disenchantment and bitterness.
Constituents are less interested in the parties than in each individual policy propounded. They hate being dunned time and again by general election package deals.
A fair-minded MP would feel bound to accept a constituency consensus on any matter, regardless of personal or party view. We already have an excellent system — the only snag is that to politicians power is more important than fairness.
To achieve fairness, we can either form constituency associations with the aim of overcoming the party power syndrome at constituency level, without more ado. Or we can ask the politicians to destroy their own power(!), by instituting the long established and successful Swiss referendum system.
R.A. Boatman
4 Hill View, Highgate Road, Forest Row, Sussex
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