Letter: Eurobank row

Sir: The European Parliamentary Elections Bill, now to be considered in committee by the Lords, contains a profound change in our constitutional arrangements which ought to alarm us all.

For the first time in British history, the only choice we (excluding the Northern Irish) shall have at the forthcoming Euro-election will be to support one party or another. Once we have made that choice, seats will be awarded to the parties within electoral regions in proportion to votes gained, and they will be filled by party nominees in an order selected by the parties. So 84 out of the 87 United Kingdom MEPs will depend for their position on the service they render to the party, and not on the service they render their constituents. Is this what we really want?

SIMON GAZELEY

Bath