IT IS ludicrous for union leaders and civil liberties groups to claim the government’s plans to introduce new strike legislation are an attack on democracy.

Indeed what the government is attempting to do is bring a measure of democracy to the way in which unions conduct their ballots for strike action.

For far too long the tail has been wagging the dog. In far too many instances in recent years damaging strikes have been called when only a minority of members support such action.

Now that is an attack on the democratic process.

ROBERT READMAN Norwich Avenue West, Bournemouth