Sir: Thank you for your welcome editorial — ' Without consent' (June 17).
The fact that Parliament in general, and the Government in particular, are adamant in refusing to go along with the wishes of the people (who should surely give their consent before their nationality is withdrawn from them) — this fact is already calling forth its democratic counter.
Now that our MPs are, for the first time, quite prepared to submit themselves to a higher authority (the EEC), it is reasonable that the higher authority to which they truly ought to submit, is that of their own constituents — and they now have no logical excuse for not doing so.
With this in mind, there has been much talk, in the grass roots of the country, of non-party constituency voters' associations.
The object of a CVA could be said to be — "to make democracy really effective." One of the ways of doing this is to support the parliamentary candidate who is pledged to put the will of his constituents, on any particular issue, above any pre-formulated political ideology, and also above his own personal desires.
CVAs are now an effective political force in Australia, where they have been active since 1962, and there seems little reason to think that similar organisations should not be highly effective here. Our growing CVAs are going to make quite certain that never again can Parliament or Government be in a position to act without the consent of the people.
R. A. Boatman Secretary, East Grinstead Constituency Voters' Association, 4 Hill View, Highgate Road, Forest Row, Sussex
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