Letters: Chartist answer

Sir: Serious independent political thinkers might re-examine the likely consequences of adopting the only one of the Chartists' "Five Points" which has not been accepted long since - annual parliamentary elections.

Annual elections would destroy party politics of the kind we seem to take for granted and profoundly alter the way the country is governed. They could conceivably give us more truly representative government than (for example) occasional referendums. The Chartists foresaw the future on their other points, including the secret ballot and salaries for MPs. Perhaps we should now dust off the final one.

JOHN R CATCH

Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire