A day for democracy

As in every year, the publication of MPs' expenses (Report, October 26) has led to the usual sensational reporting of "extravagance", league tables of expenditure and so on. This may sell papers, but it is firmly rooted in an era when being an MP was a hobby for the privileged. In the modern world, being an MP is a full-time job. As such, it requires a staffed office for correspondence, and regular travel between a potentially distant constituency and parliament. It is time that every MP was required to run an office, paid for not as an expense of the MP, but employed by parliament as a requirement.
Joseph Wright
Earls Barton, Northamptonshire

The Putney Debates (A jewel of democracy, G2, October 26) of 1647 would make October 28 an excellent candidate for a new national holiday - "Democracy Day" - and go some way to making my birthday even more memorable!
Fred Pickstone
Ulverston, Cumbria

How about a wall chart showing all the momentous events that have led to our current democracy?
Michelle Gibson

Martin Kettle wonders why Gordon Brown is reluctant to describe himself as a liberal (Comment, October 27). For those of us who are indeed Liberals, the answer may seem obvious.
Tony Greaves
House of Lords

Organic veg always wrapped (Letters, October 25)? Not in farmers' markets or local stores. Nice and naturally dirty too.
Steph Noble
Bath, Somerset

Help save the planet ... turn your thermostat down by 1C (Weekend, October 27). I haven't turned my heating on yet!
Karen Hands
Clitheroe, Lancashire

Apparently the recent arrival of the siskin finches from Eastern Europe and the pink-footed geese from Greenland signals an exceptionally cold winter on its way. Whatever happened to all that global warming we were promised?
Barry Mitchell
Worthing, West Sussex

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