Letter: The Labour Party's commitment to a wider democratic agenda

Sir: John Smith's commitment to a referendum on electoral reform has much wider significance than simply breaking the 'united front against PR' (leading article, 20 May), it underlines Labour's commitment to a wider democratic agenda - one that redefines the relationship between citizen and state. It also shows Labour to be a party with enough confidence in and respect for the electorate to allow it to decide how its own representatives are elected - something no other party has proved itself capable of doing.

This new agenda is firmly based on a pluralistic vision, one in which a wide range of democratically accountable institutions compete with and check each other's powers. An elected second chamber, regional authorities, independent local authorities, a reformed judiciary, a bill of rights, all will contribute to a vibrant new culture of democracy under the next Labour government. The Plant Committee concluded that different elected bodies can be chosen by different electoral systms and proposed Regional List proportional representation for the second chamber and European Parliament. Mr Smith stated that he supported these proposals.

Within this context, it should matter less which particular electoral system is adopted for the House of Commons - it would be just one of many institutions, all with their own powers and separate democratic mandate. Proportional representation may be appropriate for some institutions, first past the post or the supplementary vote for others. Far from being the be-all and end-all of constitutional reform that some would have us believe, electoral reform for the Commons is only one small part of a much larger vision.

Yours faithfully,

GRAHAM ALLEN

MP for Nottingham North (Lab)

House of Commons

London, SW1

20 May

The writer is Labour spokesperson on democracy and the constitution.