SIR – In his rather confused response to my criticism of Nick Clegg’s proposals for voting reform, Councillor John Hall seems to be suggesting that the candidate gaining most votes should not necessarily be declared the winner. This is totally perverse, because in almost every other contest which is decided by voting, the winner rarely secures an outright majority.

In the Eurovision Song Contest, for example, Germany won just over ten per cent and, as we all know, the UK came last with only ten votes. Under the Clegg rules, however, the next eight countries with 1,100 second preference votes between them could have boosted our total beyond 50 per cent, giving our song an undeserved victory.

As to what happens in Scotland, he should consider carefully the outcome of the 2007 Holyrood election – particularly the regional section which was contested under proportional representation. Here the Nationalists won 26 seats with 31 per cent of the vote; Labour nine with 29 per cent and the Lib Dems five with 11 per cent, giving a result which to my mind is even more unfair than the system Coun Hall and the rest of his party wish to see replaced.

Brian Holmans, Langley Road, Bingley