"I've lived abroad for many years, mainly in countries where people had no chance to vote, and in some cases where they suffered greatly when they tried to get it. It makes it all the sadder for me when I return to Britain and find that, like Paul Burke, I feel effectively disenfranchised."

This says so much. But democracy is a long term process. People say things like "Well I voted for so and so, but it made no difference, I won't vote for them again," is if one vote in one constituency can make much difference.

Those of us who worked from 1979 until 1997 to oppose and replace Thatcherism knew it was a long battle. It is easy to say we achieved nothing, which clearly I don't accept that. But that is not the point. You can join in this long process in which each of count as one and none for more than one or you can post here!