Cut MP numbers; your LETTERS.

GIVEN the regrettable public perception of our broken political system, David Cameron's suggestion that, in order to lower the cost of politics, there is a strong case for an independent boundary review to gradually reduce the number of MPs across the UK by 10 per cent over two boundary changes, will probably be met with, 'Ten per cent's a good start, when can we get rid of the other ninety per cent?' These days Guy Fawkes would win any popularity contest.

In addition, as recommended by the Committee of Standards in Public Life, David Cameron made, to most fair minded people, the very sensible point that constituencies should be of a similar size, to allow all MPs to best serve their electorate and ensure fair representation in parliament.

Any proposals, of course, would respect the current special arrangements for Wales.

Of course Labour would rather retain the status quo that, because constituency boundaries currently fail to represent real population numbers and changes over time, allowed Labour MPs to be elected, on average, by far fewer votes (27,600) than their Conservative counterparts (45,000), and resulted in Labour 'winning' the 2005 election with only 21.5 per cent of those eligible to vote. In other words, 78.5 per cent of those now suffering under Labour never voted for them in the first place!

This would be a small contribution to mending a political system that has been discredited by the expenses scandal and years of Labour spin and distortion taking the place of the kind of mature debate about the problems that face our country the electorate is entitled to from any party asking to form the next government.

John Bell, Parliamentary Candidate, Clwyd South Welsh