For those who don’t know, jerrymandering is an example of the sort of political chicanery that is only possible where there is a first-past-the-post system, as in the UK and US.

It is supposed to have been invented in the US by a Senator named Gerry Mander.

It is the practice of defining constituency boundaries in such a way as to give maximum advantage to a particular political party.

Where there are concentrations of support, it is a relatively simple matter to maximise a party’s prospects by simply transferring half of another party’s support to a neighbouring constituency.

In the UK we don’t need jerrymandering. The Boundary Commission can do the job just as effectively.

Oxford West and Abingdon’s boundaries have been increased by encoaching onto neighbouring Wantage and Witney – both safe Tory seats.

The likely consequence is an increase in Tory support in a constituency that can well do without it.

If the Tory candidate succeeds in unseating Dr Harris, it will be numbers, not merit that will have determined the outcome.

What is worse, the constituency will be saddled with a member whose function will be to maintain the status quo of the first-past-the-post system.

For those of us for whom electoral reform is a matter of urgency, we simply cannot afford the loss of a single Lib Dem MP, least of all our own Dr Harris.

There is talk of a hung Parliament after the next General Election, but I don’t believe anything will happen until the Lib Dems get a far greater representation in the Commons.

GL Samson

Preston Road

Abingdon