I REFER to a letter from a Allan Ralston (Warrington Guardian, August 24) in which he asserts that UKIP are a waste of time and space.

Particularly, the salaries, allowances and expenses paid to the UKIP MEPs from the European Parliament.

I would point out that these are paid to all MEPs, irrespective of party, and in the case of UKIP will end when we leave the EU.

As a matter of fact, UKIP is the only party with a manifesto objective to cut the cost of government and to make it truly democratic.

We will abolish the House of Lords: arguably, it is stuffed with Prime Ministerial cronies, party donors, fundraisers and ex-MPs.

It certainly does not reflect the wishes of the electorate. The average cost of each peer is £115,000 a year. Value for money?

We will create a new English Parliament which will sit in the chamber vacated by the House of Lords.

It will have its own first minister and its 375 members will be elected under additional member system of proportional representation.

All four nations will have broadly similar devolved powers and none will have power over matters affecting the whole of the UK.

We propose a smaller House of Commons, halved to 325 directly elected members from across the four nations of the UK, again using proportional representation.

These changes will reduce the number of politicians eligible to sit in the legislature from 1,475 to 700, a net reduction of 775.

A waste of time and money, Mr Ralston?

The problem is not caused by UKIP it is our corrupt and undemocratic system which UKIP intends to change.

Mr Ralston could always join us and help bring about these necessary changes and no, we are not desperate.

JAMES ASHINGTON Lymm