Alternative vote

I am surprised that your list of "polling systems across the world" (your report, 3 February) failed to mention the continental system of staging a run-off between the top two candidates if the leader does not win outright.

I analysed the results of the 1997 and 2001 general elections and found that in more than half the constituencies the candidate elected polled more than 50 per cent of the vote. This would indicate that we should move to the continental system of having a run-off between the top two candidates, but that would mean Sunday polls to avoid closing schools twice. As we seem to be hooked on Thursday elections I fear that would be a change too far.

If we cannot have the run-off system, the alternative vote is the most reasonable substitute and easiest to implement.

FRANK DONALD

Tantallon Place

Edinburgh

New Labour has been in power now for almost 13 years, without even a whisper of voting system change in what was, under Tony Blair, a busy period of wider constitutional reform.

Suddenly, with an election in the offing, where there is a fair chance of Labour losing office, it appears on the agenda.

It is this cynicism and calculation, together with Gordon Brown's earlier financial largesse, which I hope will see him lose.

WILLIAM BALLANTINE

Dean Road

Bo'ness, West Lothian