The results of the local elections once again showed how unrepresentative our current voting system is. Whether in local or in general elections, First Past the Post (FPTP) distorts public opinion and damages trust in politics. It forces us to choose between voting tactically or being ignored, and leads to millions of votes, particularly those cast for smaller parties, being wasted. Even worse, it leads to disillusionment and apathy - why bother to vote if your voice cannot be heard?

Last year, Labour won a landslide on just 34 per cent of the vote. With more and more people abandoning the two biggest parties, the proportion of votes needed to win would be even smaller. This means in 2029 we could get a government that 70 per cent of the public voted against. I’m very concerned about the future of our democracy if we don’t improve how our elections work. That’s why I support the Make Votes Matter campaign in calling for First Past the Post to be replaced with a proportional system where seats match votes, and all voices are heard equally.

Pat Thorne, Boscastle