JOHN Heslop's reply (HAS, Aug 6) to my letter (HAS, Aug 1) on the subject of democracy seems to make assertions.

1) That I advocate everyone voting on every issue. I never stated that. I just pointed out that once an elector gives away his vote to someone else to represent him he loses that power of his vote.

2) Regarding his description of my point about capital punishment as "a red herring". Again, I did not advocate capital punishment. I merely used that issue as an example of how the majority of people wanted it retained while a minority (their MPs) wanted it abolished - and it was abolished.

Barry Wood, Edmondsley, Co Durham.