SIR - So Jason Smith of UKIP believes that "democracy" is where every person's voice is heard (T&A, October 31). How idealistic!

As he notes, this is not the UK today, (nor ever has been!), nor does he hint at how this could be achieved.

I can't see us going down the road of referenda for everything, and single-issue protests may have only limited influence. Even well-supported protests as that against the Gulf War can be safely ignored by Government.

As we have gone down the road of representative democracy, we must make our politicians and Government more representative.

Is it fair that our Labour Government were "elected" by some 24 per cent of those registered to vote and only 35 per cent of those who actually voted?

We need proportional representation to make your voices heard.

I partly agree with Mr Smith in denying prisoners the right to vote, eg lifers and other long-term inmates, but others serving short sentences should retain a stake in society and especially the likes of me who served 30 days for not allowing my poll tax to be paid from monies I had previously donated to the Council!

John Hall, Pennithorne Avenue, Baildon