David Gibbons (Argus, June 4) and other letter writers seem to be expressing sour grapes regarding the result of the general election.

Several points need to be made. The current constituency boundaries benefit Labour more than the Conservatives. This situation will be addressed when the Boundary Commission reports in 2018.

The British people decisively rejected the single transfer vote system in a referendum. There seems little appetite to embrace Proportional Representation (PR).

Such a system would guarantee a permanent coalition government. The British people appear to support strong government. The irony is that under a PR system the government would be similar to what exists now. A Conservative/UKIP coalition would have emerged.

Between them both parties obtained 56% of the vote. This would equate to 329 seats – three fewer than both parties have now.

Under a PR system there are no by-elections, meaning vacancies are filled from party lists so the government would not lose its majority.

The Conservatives were the only credible party to form a government. It is in the interest of free democracy that a viable alternative party of government is needed. Sadly all the left of centre options are flawed. The Lib Dems have the more absurd views of the left which make them farcical. The Greens are a left wing group which may have support among students and environmentalists. At best they are a protest party.

Labour has a serious identity crisis. When it was formed it had a natural power base. Most working people were employed in factories or mines.

Most were poorly paid with poor working conditions. They lived in poor housing with no proper health care. Labour strove to improve their standard of living and achieved great success.

Many of Labour’s traditional supporters now live in private homes. Most of the factories and mines have closed.

Despite 70 years of claims that the Tories would destroy the NHS, the concept of healthcare free at the point of service is embedded.

The links between Labour and the unions are counterproductive to both sides. The political levy does neither any good.

I have been a trade unionist all of my working life. But this levy discourages people from joining unions. The majority of trade unionists do not vote Labour.

Labour may receive millions of pounds from the unions but the effect on their credibility has been fatal.

The UK needs a new centre to centre left party similar to the German Social Democrats which will pursue a sensible agenda.

Richard J Szypulski, Lavender Street, Brighton