SINGLE-party government and confrontational politics may be suitable for the House of Commons, but for new and relatively untried assemblies consensus politics have great advantages.

The ideal, reformed House of Lords should retain its cross-benchers and no party should have overall superiority.

With Britain adopting PR for Europe the artificial Socialist majority no longer exists, no group of nations or ideologies has control and agreements have to be reached across boundaries. This should lead to much more sensitive government.

The Welsh, Scottish and, hopefully, Northern Ireland assemblies will require a consensus. The modified form in Scotland with the Liberal Democrats participating in a coalition means that vast tracks of Scotland, such as the Highlands, are not omitted from decision-making.

A North West assembly should also be a consensus with no area or political party dominating.

Consensus politics has worked in local government as with the setting up of new towns such as Milton Keynes.

The Labour group plans for Blackburn with Darwen running the borough through a cabinet or cabal system makes democracy more remote.

The whole community is concerned with issues such as city status, the safety of our roads and homes, housing, garbage collection, residential homes and special schools.

A PR system with larger wards and fewer councillors would provide a much more representative forum.

EDMUND CRITCHLEY, Merlin Road, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.