YOUR story (LET, November 19) about two Euro MPs' attempts to save European funding for Hyndburn (a vain quest, I fear) highlights the present limitations of sub-regional representation in the UK, heightened, sadly, by the very nature of the present European parliament elected on regional lists.

Messrs Robert Atkins and Den Dover are no doubt sincere in their efforts, but neither of them has ever represented Hyndburn, nor do they now have any direct mandate from Hyndburn and East Lancashire, nor indeed do they have any democratic accountability to East Lancashire.

They succeeded on a list drawn up by their own party to cover the entire North West and they have simply been asked to look after the area by their party. New Labour has a similar arrangement.

Readers will recall that my own letter of intention not to stand in the 1999 Euro election said that, among other reasons, I did not want to represent my own area on a list system which destroys the link between elected member and constituents.

Readers also may recall that when I tried to point out the inadequacies of the list system, I was threatened with suspension from my own party for rocking the boat.

The pathetic turnout was the first of many chickens to come home to roost. Jack Straw, Home Secretary and Blackburn MP, was responsible for introducing this disastrous system and has recognised his error by offering a review.

In my period of office, East Lancashire obtained and retained, against all odds, assisted area status collectively in Brussels. I have never sought undue credit for that - and it was a sustained collective effort by the sub-region - but having one directly-elected and accountable MEP for the sub-region did help bring coherence to the debate. That situation no longer pertains. As well as abandoning the list system for the next Euro elections, might I suggest another way of enhancing the sub regional voice?

Westminster MPs are now reduced to lobby fodder and being the virtual senior social worker in their constituencies. Furthermore, the constituencies are too small for economic planning.

Why not have a fully-elected second chamber at Westminster based on sub-regions? The present so-called reform of the Lords, replacing cronies of past monarchs by the cronies of present Prime Ministers, is hardly a great leap forward for democracy.

Directly elected and accountable representatives would give the sub-region a voice to suit modern economic realities at the heart of government.

MICHAEL HINDLEY, former MEP for Lancashire South.

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