Sir, - Jarlath Hayes (April 27th) states his intention not to vote in any forthcoming local or national election for reasons, he states, we will all understand.
While I sympathise with the thought, I submit that the right to vote has been too hard won to be lightly thrown away. Instead, why not the following: an anti-corruption, anti-sleaze candidate in each constituency (Martin Bell, you will recall, stood unsuccessfully against Neil Hamilton on just that ground in the last British general election), with no need to raise expensive campaign funds, just a simple message: "We've had enough of it".
Surely there must be the requisite number of people who are totally honest? And if they do lack political experience, at least their mistakes will be honest ones and their actions not influenced by the needs and demands of their (hidden) masters. - Yours, etc.,
Barbara O'Connell Schull Books, Ballydehob, Co Cork