MADAM – According to Andy Treacher (letters March 4), ‘David Drew is an honest, hardworking, honourable politician who worked his socks off when he was our MP between 1997-2010’.

Now, if his beliefs have become so green that he should be voted in by local Greens (perhaps, because locally Labour has lost support?), I wonder why he is not considering actually joining the Green Party?

If he intends to ‘oppose Trident renewal, Frankenstein-like GMO food, fracking, incineration – and support local food chains and re-nationalising the railways’ (as stated by Martin Large, in his letter on the same date) – how can he do all this from inside a party with a different, if not opposite, line of action?

Opposition is vital in a democratic Parliament, though it may be more effective from outside a party rather than inside.

However, Labour has shown very scarce ability to fulfil this task over the last five years, while the Greens have skills and now experience, and have demonstrated they can do this even with one MP.

Martin is right. It is sad that we have an unfair electoral system, but Labour is not going to change it, is it?

The tactical vote boosts Labour’s support far more than its policies.

Should we think and act with more than the next five years in mind, ie resorting to vote tactically again? If we include our children and their children and grandchildren in our field of vision, we should be more courageous and vote for what we believe.

Therefore, rather than swapping votes across the country, I would suggest to strengthen the local debate that David swaps Party.

Lucas Schoemaker

Town councillor

Green Party