‘6 May 2021: Have your say’

• I AM delighted that your correspondent Dick Leonard spotted the potential to use the upcoming London mayoral elections to add to the democratic clarion call for the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union, (I know where my second preference is going, April 22).

The voting system used to elect the mayor allows voters to campaign for the issues closest to their hearts without fear of splitting the vote and letting in a divisive character that no one wants (and there are quite a few this year).

The system of two votes means that any of the 66 per cent of Londoners who voted in the 2016 referendum to remain inside the European Union can make their voice known by voting for Richard Hewison who is campaigning to “Rejoin the EU: Brexit is broken” as their first preference.

If two-thirds of London does in fact vote for him then he will get in in the first round, as the clear choice for a pro-EU city with no need for second preference votes.

However if he, sadly, gets knocked out in the first round then all his votes will be allocated to the person that those voters put as their second preference.

So in Mr Leonard’s case, if he puts Mr Hewison first and Sadiq Khan second, then his vote will go to Sadiq Khan.

Importantly the result of those first preference votes will be recorded and will be seen as a sign of the strength of feeling of support for remaining in the EU after the raft of miserable outcomes for whole swathes of society that the government’s handling of Brexit has delivered so far (fisherman, small business, National Health Service workers… the list is endless).

Finally it is important to say that there is no point putting Mr Hewison as your second preference. Assuming that Sadiq Khan does win, as widely forecast, then a second vote for Mr Hewison will never get counted.

The supplementary vote system is a real act of progress for democracies but it is up to us to use it wisely.

PHIL THORNTON
Lisburne Road, NW3