Letter: Large parties that assume too much power

Large parties that assume too much power

Tony Blair is concerned that proportional representation may give "disproportionate power" to small parties ("New Labour", 7 July). If true, that would make a refreshing change from the present system, which gives disproportionate power to large parties. The Government's parliamentary majority has always been based on less than half the popular vote - including many that cast their votes with gritted teeth and would have voted for one of the minority parties under a system that gave such parties a fair chance of gaining representation.

Brian Fewster

Leicester