SIR – The demise of Colonel Gadaffi in Lybia could, if nothing else, bring democracy to that country for the first time.

However, we in England might as well be living under a dictatorship where the EU is concerned.

Although public opinion has forced Parliament to hold a debate on a referendum over our continued EU membership, the triumvirate of party leaders – Cameron, Clegg and Milliband – pre-empted this by ordering all their MPs to vote against it.

This denies every MP the democratic right to vote according to their own conscience, or equally as important, according to the wishes of their constituents.

If party leaders are allowed to get away with this on such a vital issue, it begs the question – why elect people to represent us in Parliament at all?

D S Boyes, Rodley Lane, Leeds