THANK you Steve Ellis and polly@civilised.co.uk for putting alternative possibilities to overcome the serious shortcomings in our current state of democracy. Because we lack the old fashioned type of constituency MP who tried to represent us all; and now have party interest before everything; we need to examine as many ways as possible how we the people can get back some kind of respect from those we elect.

My view is to use the technology we currently have available to have telephone and e-mail polling not just at election time but all the time. TV programmes and newspapers do it by asking us to vote by telephone or e-mail; indeed I am writing this letter by e-mail; so why can't we extend the franchise? Because it won't suit the political parties; whether local or national; to be constantly in touch with our thoughts and opinions maybe this is an idea that deserves its time? Power and three-line whips are everything to them. Look at the supine and unprincipled way most MPs; and local councillors; abuse the power we give them. The daft carryings-on of the local Labour group on the council are an example of abuse by none participation rather than rolling up their sleeves and making a difference for us all. To his credit; and I know some will not like this: Hilton Dawson has voted against his party and the whips on several occasions involving "attacks" by the Government on vulnerable people such as single parents, the disabled, long term sick and immigrants. For an MP with a tiny majority that is more courage than other Labour MPs in the area have shown. The use of technology would enable those who support his stand - even though I cannot vote for him - to be reflected in my constituency. It would also help those who disagree with him. As an MP he; at least; seems to understand the need for consensus and the need to represent all his constituents.

Although I recognise some are concerned about his antecedents in such things as the Blobby affair let us at least recognise the distance he has travelled.

I have e-mailed polly regarding a new democratic movement so hopefully the debate and ideas will continue and The Citizen may become our clarion call to arms!

Barry Bell

(via e-mail)

*oted against the government and one can't disagree with some of the points you make but Hilton has only his self to blame for the natural concern over his refusal to answer questions about the Blobby saga. How can we be sure, for example, that he isn't as unquestioningly trusting of 'official' advice today as he claims he was then? How can we be sure that he is paying attention to the important issues when, as the then head of economic development for example, the important decisions that saw £2million of your cash go for a Burton, seemed to completely pass him by. And more importantly is his attitude to the question of his accountability to the public... why should we have had to wait for him to be officially summoned by the auditor to provide answers to simple yet important questions? He could and should have answered them at the time - Ed