LETTER : Fury at five minutes of voting

Sir: I am sick and tired of middle-aged, middle-class journalists passing judgement on my entire generation (Polly Toynbee; "Mrs Thatcher's airhead revenge", 28 April).

Young people are not all "airheads" and "know-nothings", and the decision not to vote is not a "fashion statement". As far as I can see (and as Ms Toynbee's article actually confirms), young people have got it right: real impact is made by demonstrating - not by putting a little mark on a little bit of paper once every five years.

The young people who'd risk anything for their beliefs are more "political" than the middle-aged man or woman who spends five minutes every five years trotting down to a polling station.

KEZIA HALLIDAY

London SE22