LETTER:Blair should emulate the Iron Duke

From Dr Roger Mortimore

Sir: Your leading article argues (15 August) that Labour may find its commitment to a referendum on electoral reform politically damaging in the short term.

Your readers may remember that Mori's State of the Nation survey for the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, conducted in April and May (and published in your newspaper), found Labour supporters in favour of a referendum on the electoral system by 52 per cent to 38 per cent - almost as strongly as Liberal Democrats, and fractionally more strongly than in the corresponding survey four years ago.

Damaging or not, the majority of Tony Blair's supporters would prefer him not to abandon the policy.

Yours sincerely,

Roger Mortimore

Market and Opinion

Research International (Mori)

London, SW1

16 August