SIR — On behalf of our Green Party candidates in the last week's district elections, I would like to thank all those who used their precious vote to support the Green Party and also the Yes vote in the referendum.
Although the alternative vote system was never going to be a favoured solution to the unfairness that continues to exist in our first past the post voting system, it did represent a need for change to proportionality, where the wishes of the electorate should be sovereign.
The West Somerset Conservatives will be celebrating the achievement of 68 per cent of district councillors while achieving only 49 per cent of the vote.
This fact alone proves that the Conservatives, with their vociferous no to AV campaigning, are firmly set against fairness in the most basic of our democratic processes.
It is hardly surprising, therefore, to find the Conservatives supporting other unfair measures at all levels of government, eg their preference for bailing out the banking industry rather than our social security and health systems, our libraries, youth services or recycling centres.
The Conservative preference for the provision of public services by private companies for profit rather than by government department for community benefit clearly demonstrates the Conservative attitude in devaluing real human needs while promoting the use of taxpayers' money to secure huge benefits to the financial elite.
Social justice has not been served or advanced by this election, nor has the local need to address the combined global challenges of climate change, resource depletion and financial stability.
Local communities will be reliant on the co-operation of all to secure a vibrant and sustainable future; those now taking seats of power must recognise and encompass the needs of everybody and build a sustainable future we can all benefit from.
Charles Graham,
Sedgemoor and West Somerset Green Party.