• On 30 October MPs will be able to debate a motion calling for the adoption of proportional representation for UK parliamentary elections. Will the Guardian use its influence to encourage Labour MPs to support the motion, spelling out the case for a fairer electoral system?
Ian East
North Shields, Tyne and Wear

• To say, as George Monbiot does, that “only 650 people out of 66 million have a valid role in national politics, beyond voting once every five years” is to ignore the distinction between formal authority (voting) and real political influence. Your leader (The economy is providing increasing evidence against Brexit, 18 October) says “Public opinion may be starting to shift against Brexit a bit … though not enough yet to rely on”. This is what really matters, because all 650 MPs are constantly, obsessively concerned with getting re-elected in their constituencies, and their party forming the next government.
Alan Bailey
London

•  points about the value of using referendums to engage the people in their own governance, but on balance I still prefer the expertise of well-informed legislators to the “wisdom” of the great unwashed. Abortion in Ireland is a good reference point in this debate. Thanks to the eighth amendment, added to the Irish constitution by referendum in 1983, a one-second-old foetus is considered by law to be of equal value to and have the same rights as a fully grown adult woman.

Ireland has a combination of citizens’ forums and representative democracy. For instance, we recently had an intensive citizens’ assembly and currently have a parliamentary committee examining the eighth amendment’s viability in a modern Ireland. Both forums have declared, or are in the process of declaring, it no longer fit for purpose. The citizens’ assembly in particular favoured a liberal abortion regime akin to the UK.