Dear Sir,

For the statisticians out there, with regard to recent opinion on British election results and the “Labour landslide”, it is somewhat misleading in that although Labour won 211 more seats than previously held, it received a half million fewer votes (Gallagher Index), which amounts to the least proportional representation ever.

Labour received 33.7 per cent of total votes but won 63 per cent of seats (411); Conservatives received 23.7 per cent of total votes but won only 19 per cent of seats (121); Reform Party received 17 per cent of total votes but won only 1 per cent of seats (5 ).

The Lib Dems received 12 per cent of total votes and won 11 per cent of seats — the fairest representation. Other parties garnered 16 per cent of total votes and won 6 per cent of the seats.

The biggest gap on record has emerged between the share of the vote won nationally by parties and the number of seats they have gained (BBC).

With proportional representation, the seat share would have been:

• Labour 219

• Conservative 154

• Reform 110

This would have juggled things around a bit.

DIANA HIGGINBOTHAM

Devonshire