I DISAGREE with the view expressed by John Finlay (Citizen August 9) who claims that democracy is being eroded. He claims as evidence of his theory that the new executive style local government committee need not have any opposition members.

That may well be an option but the fact is that our local council has opposition members on the committee. He also mentions the recent attempt by the Government to remove two outspoken Labour MPs from their positions as chairs of parliamentary committees.

His letter states his sadness that my MP Joan Humble supported the government move. I can tell him to be sad no more, for he is wrong. Joan Humble believes Gwynneth Dunwoody MP has done a fine job as chair of the Transport Committee and respects the lady's wide knowledge of the subject. Therefore our MP happily supported her to retain the chair of that committee. John Finlay would be wise to check his facts properly before making statements on things that he has no knowledge.

He also claims the low turn out in the June General Election has something to do with a loss of democracy. I disagree. It was mainly due to the widely held belief that the government would be returned with a huge majority. Many believed there was really "no contest" --a dangerous view to take in my opinion as one can never be sure of a result until the last vote is counted.

According to a Radio 4 survey of those who failed to turn out, 53% have recorded that had they done so they would have supported Labour. While a mere 19% would have voted Tory.

When Labour came to power in 1997 there was a desperate need to rebuild democracy and our country's health and education systems. That rebuilding has begun. The reforms have been the most radical for centuries. Londoners now elect their own powerful Mayor. Other major cities have the opportunity for that style of local government if their citizens wish.

Nationally even though the Tories fought bitterly, the undemocratic but automatic right of hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords and vote on issues affecting all our lives has ended in the first stage of the Lords reform. I believe Britain now has a more modern democracy than it has ever had in its long history.

Jack Croysdill, press officer to Joan Humble MP.