Sir, – In the blizzard of claim and counterclaim in the current political discussion, I think it is appropriate to recognise the stability that the Liberal Democrat involvement in the coalition has brought to the nation.

The situation five years ago was dire and a government without an overall majority would have struggled from day one. The result would probably have been another election within a short time with all the uncertainty that entails. Instead we have had a coalition government able to agree on policies and implement them.

I believe that the Liberal Democrats deserve a lot of credit for the considerable degree of success of this government with policies that in many instances have been influenced in favour of the Lib Dem approach.

Of course, there have been many instances when they have had to concede to the Conservative view, the student fees issue being the one frequently cited.

Liberal Democrats draw their support from Inverness to Truro and all points between, the only truly one nation party, and deserve the opportunity to influence government policy again.

GERALD HODGSON

Spennithorne, Leyburn.