I see the current parliamentary crisis as a really excellent opportunity for Dorchester and many other authorities to start taking charge of their own destinies.

For many years a sense of apathy has alienated the public from the political process.

The voting system is flawed and regularly produces governments ruled by parties without an overall majority of votes cast.

More pertinently, elections have been more about the two main parties insulting each other than providing other legitimate interests such as the Liberals, a proper voice in parliament.

As recent events have demonstrated, we have finished up with a House of Commons populated by a significant percentage of self-servers.

The public have lost control of an establishment which should work for them. Respect for MPs is at an all-time low.

Parliament is steeped in tedious time-wasting traditions which are unnecessary and act as a hindrance in today’s dynamic world.

Political parties have become so blurred, one can hardly tell the difference between them. Spin doctors make a mockery of what should constitute proper information dissemination and decisions like going to war have been made on suspect evidence by MPs afraid to break ranks, defy party whips and act with integrity.

I should like to ask your readers some questions: Do they feel that the Party Political System inhibits their ability to influence parliamentary decision?

Do they see an urgent need for political reform such as proportional representation?

Would they like their views concerning not only local matters but also on far-reaching subjects to be taken into account in real ways?

Do they see why MPs should be provided with any more financial support than that required to make sure they can travel to London to attend Parliament and to receive reasonable day-to-day expenses whilst there?

Would they prefer candidates to be able to vote freely on all matters and not necessarily in accordance with a party edict?

Would they like to see a local candidate elected whose leanings would reflect the people of Dorchester’s collective beliefs and ambitions rather than a candidate perhaps from another part of Britain whose belief system has already been decided for him by his party?

Would they like to see the end of the party political system and its continuous waste of time and talent?

If they answer yes to a reasonable proportion of these questions, I suggest there is a solution available to them.

Given enough support and the formation of a guiding committee, I am sure Dorchester could put forward its own candidate for election to Parliament on a mandate such as “Representative for Dorchester and Political Reform”.

We could all then ignore the candidates with political skills and focus on those with more human qualities than those we have seen displayed recently.

Given the ready availability of the Internet, it would be relatively easy to support our own candidate when he or she was elected, with up-to-date local opinion on any matter.

I think there are moments in history which have the ability to change the way we think and motivate us towards change and improvement and away from bad habits, procrastination, despair and apathy.

I believe the widespread dissatisfaction with the way things are could be put to positive use by moving on.

It would be a mistake to allow it to engender negativity and a lack of appreciation of the many things which we have done well as a nation and as individuals.

Let us use the present opportunity to change for the better the out-worn procedures and systems which have got us into a rut. We don’t need to bring the house down; we just need to restore it!

A new future is possible; there is no reason why we cannot start the process here. I believe many other authorities and electorates would follow suit immediately.

C M D Joslin, Garfield Avenue, Dorchester.