MAURICE VASSIE wants me to address different types of democracy (Letters, August 29). I’d be happy to oblige.

There is no clear definition of democracy, either regarding the subject it’s held on or on the system used.

Be it nominating representatives or deciding a course of action, the common principles are, first, we the public take the decision, and second, the result is not just respected but obeyed.

He is right about the complex process of treaty making etc, that’s not for the public to handle, that’s what we have an executive for.

We vote on the general course of action, they see to the details using executive power in our name.

That power however, is lent to them by the voters and, as Tony Benn said, the politicians had no right to give away powers that were lent to them, because they don’t belong to them.

They have to return their power to us at an election undiminished and so Brexit is going to be a long overdue foreclosure.

The key difference is that referendums are held when the issue in question alters the system of how we are governed itself.

The people must decide this to stop politicians altering the system to suit themselves and not us, hence it must be done by direct democracy.

Dr Scott Marmion, Woodthorpe, York