Letter: Distortions and myths of voting

Sir: We did not see any Lib-Lab or Tory-Lib manifesto (Letters, 7 May), but that is because of the system, where the formation of such coalitions is unlikely to be necessary.

In Germany, where the additional member system is used, there are two broad coalitions, which have been established for some time. If a voter in Germany votes for the Free Democrats, then they know prior to the election that this will also help Helmut Kohl's Christian Democrats to secure a majority in the Bundestag.

A coalition of separate parties free to voice their opinions is surely better than having large divided parties, where factions are forced to conceal their views.

DAVID ADAMS

Fareham, Hampshire