Democracy is at whim of politicians

Dear Sir,

Regarding Sylvia Dyke's letter and your response in last week's Chronicle, she asks "What is democracy?"

There are two main forms of democracy that distinguish themselves from other forms of government, such as dictatorship or totalitarianism. They are representative and direct democracy, although many are a combination with elements of the third and fourth.

Ours is on the representative end of the spectrum and only works if we can trust those elected to do what they have said they will to get themselves elected, as well as exercising their own judgement.

If we defi ne democracy as being people-centric, levels of accountability need to be built in to any system and it is these that defi ne the sort of democracy we live in.

Without a defi ned set of rules that are outside and above the Party system and describe processes rather than policies, we are going to continue to be at the whim of individuals, however they are elected.

Yours faithfully,

DR PETER HIRST

Middlewich.