Boundary changes won’t right electoral wrongs

SIR – The comments of Chris Skidmore, the minister for the constitution, on proposed boundary reforms (“Corbyn ‘trying to rig election’”, report, December 29) can only be described as deeply cynical.

These reforms are based on the electoral register of December 2015, which excludes at least 1.75 million voters who were registered six months later, plus an estimated six million still missing from the rolls. They are concentrated in areas that will be seriously short on representation if the planned changes go ahead.

However, what is really causing under-representation is our electoral system, which saw the Tories winning 100 per cent of the power in 2015 with the backing of just 24 per cent of eligible voters. Mr Skidmore should instead call for a fair, proportional voting system that means Parliament reflects the will of the people. Natalie Bennett

Former leader, Green Party Sheffield, South Yorkshire SIR – While boundary reform is a serious matter, it is to be regretted that our electoral system is treated as a partisan football.

No Conservative voices are heard lamenting the corrosive effect of unregistered, disfranchised voters, mostly younger and poorer people, just as no Labour voices are heard calling for sensible boundary changes.

We need root-and-branch reform, possibly including an end to “first past the post”. Democracy should matter for its own sake. Steve Window

Christleton, Cheshire

SIR – Surely it is time the Boundary Commission was made independent, as the Bank of England is.

It should be free to set the number of MPS and the size of constituencies without reference to Parliament. In this way the electorate would be assured of fair representation. David Richmond

Peterborough