SIR – Re “Clegg’s unfair rules” ( Letters, July 14), Brian Holmans disagrees that the alternative vote could be fairer than our present system.

This is based on his opinion of how people vote and who he thinks they would choose as an alternative or second choice.

He claims Lib Dems are usually virulently anti-Tory, when I know many are anti-Labour.

He also says that our Shipley MP’s majority was impressive and entitles him to sit in the Commons.

Quite a few MPs had impressive majorities or larger minorities than opponents, Brian. These were the result of an unfair voting system with many voting negatively or merely for whom they think will win.

We could only come near to what people want with a sensible system of proportional representation where people vote for what they believe in, as in Scottish and Northern Irish local elections (the latter introduced by the last Conservative Government to give all sections of Ulster a fair voice). If good enough there, why not here?

We could just leave the decision to you, Brian, with your insight as to what people really want, but for now, I’d prefer the alternative vote.

Councillor John Hall (Lib Dem, Windhill and Wrose), Pennithorne Avenue, Shipley