Finland shows us what happens when a country embraces a proportional voting system

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Finland’s pledge to make the country carbon neutral by 2035 is the most ambitious climate plan in the whole EU. This has happened because Greens are in government, winning 20 seats under a proportional electoral system and claiming three ministries: foreign, environment and international aid.

Interestingly, Greens achieved this result with 11 per cent of the vote, which is the level of support for Greens in a UK general election indicated by some recent opinion polls. Yet in the UK the Green Party finds it impossible to be fairly represented at Westminster due to our archaic first-past-the-post system.

But at our spring conference in Scarborough this weekend we are optimistic that change is coming. There is clearly a growing mood of rebellion against our current system. The two-party system is in meltdown as people seem increasingly willing and confident to vote with their hearts.

Finland has demonstrated the unmistakable correlation between a fair voting system and tackling climate change. Conversely Britain’s outdated electoral system reveals a growing disconnect between our politicians and the concerns of citizens.

Rather than listening to school strikers and Extinction Rebellion activists, Phillip Hammond prefers to bury himself in spreadsheets, declaring we can’t afford to address the climate emergency.

It is clear that in order to tackle climate change we need first to change our voting system.

Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for the South West
European parliament, Brussels

Cutting carbon to zero is completely possible

The government’s proposal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 is very welcome. But only if it becomes a legally binding commitment. It would then set a realistic but challenging target for the UK to achieve.

The Treasury has cautioned that it will cost a fortune and may not be affordable. However this view is based on current technology and our current way of living. 2050 is 30 years away. If we look back 30 years instead, there was no internet, no mobile phones, no tablet computers and TVs were huge cumbersome beasts. The technology has changed and so has the way we live. This has all been driven by innovation, not by target setting. A 2050 carbon neutrality target is not only achievable, innovation will make it cost effective.

Bernard Cudd

Morpeth

The Brexit Party isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

Doesn’t Nigel Farage’s character show through after his behaviour at the Peterborough count? When it became clear that there wasn’t going to be a famous victory he sneaked in through a side door, then left before the declaration without speaking to the press. He abandoned his candidate. Is this how a leader should behave?

The Brexit Party says that it has done tremendously well for a party that is only eight weeks old. We all know that it is really an offshoot of UKIP so there is already a base of support. Peterborough voted strongly to leave in the referendum so if the Brexit Party can’t win here, where can it?

Valerie Leake​
Cambridge

Boris isn’t benign

Tory MP Damian Collins is backing Boris Johnson in the Tory leadership race on the grounds Johnson will “restore trust and excitement in our politics again”.

It reminded me of a remark made by a colleague during the 2008 elections for mayor of London. They told me they were voting for Boris Johnson because he’s “a laugh”.

In 2011 as mayor of London, Johnson cut 10 London fire stations and over 500 firefighter jobs – and suddenly no one was laughing anymore.

Sasha Simic​
London N16

Democracy is precious

Dominic Raab has apparently said that were he to become prime minister, he would be prepared to suspend parliament to secure the no-deal Brexit that he wants. He doesn’t think much of representative democracy, it seems.

Democracy is delicate and fragile. I find it troubling that a member of the government should show such disregard for it in a week when we are remembering how many lives had to be lost to bring an end to a movement that sidelined democracy to seize power and achieve its goals, setting the world on fire as it did so.

Perhaps Mr Raab went a bit over the top in his bid to get the top job and didn’t think through the implications of what he was saying, but we need wise, thoughtful leaders, not idiots. Or perhaps he really thinks that what he said was OK.

R Warrell​
Yealmpton

D-Day hypocrisy

My dad was there, aged 18, was also sunk twice in the Mediterranean and had to swim for numerous hours in an oily, highly flammable sea by moonlight. He has more medals than Usain Bolt.

And now? Had to sell all he owned to pay for his nursing home, all while the millionaire “royalty” and politicians, who have never seen a minute of such horrendous, terrifying conflict, “pay tribute”.

For queen and country indeed. Pass me the bucket.

John Marshall
Nuremberg