Sir – Mr M. Hugh-Jones does not think that referenda are a necessary or even useful part of democracy (Letters, June 13).

But they are, particularly when voters’ interests conflict with the interests of politicians, as they do in the case of electoral reform.

MPs would be very reluctant to vote for the merger of their constituencies with neighbouring ones, certainly in rural areas, as would be necessary for proportional representation at Westminster by the Single Transferable Vote in multi-member constituencies, the system he proposes.

For those of us living in safe seats such as Henley who like the idea of one MP per constituency, even if of another party to the one we prefer, preferential voting is far more important than proportional representation. Let us at least be able to vote 1 for our first preference, but still be able to influence the result between the two front runners to become our MP.

The next referendum should have three alternatives, X voting, preferential voting in existing constituencies and preferential voting in multi-member constituencies. How would we vote?

With the Single Transferable preferential 1,2,3 vote, of course! We might then come up with the right answer.

Dane Clouston, Stadhampton