I applaud the recommendation of Jethro Pettit (Letters, May 4) that we should ‘vote with confidence and conscience for what we believe in’ on Thursday.

His is a morally unassailable position.

Were I to do that, my vote would be cast for a minor party, and I know in advance that my voice will not be heard.

So I shall vote for the second best candidate in the knowledge that she does at least stand a chance.

The election result in 2010 heralded a seismic change in the political landscape of the UK.

The old game of ping-pong between the Conservatives and Labour is over. The first-past-the-post electoral system that these parties favoured is no longer valid.

Many despair at apathy among voters – a despair with which I empathise – because they know what the politicians have not noticed that our undemocratic and frankly exhausted voting system serves everyone badly.

So why bother to vote if my vote counts for nothing.

Dr Michael Johnson, Kevin Gardens, Brighton