Concern for government

It is good to hear that Dame Professor Mary Beard is now a trustee of the British Museum ( bm), despite the government’s efforts to the contrary (Spoilheap May/Jun 2020/172, Phase 2 this edition). It remains deeply worrying that this nomination took such a tortuous route.

To the majority of our citizenship, who is or isn’t a bmtrustee is of little consequence. Governmental intrusion in such a position illustrates the extent that the executive is taking control of minutiae in the country. The courts ordered the government to allow parliament to decide over Brexit, and they stopped the executive from proroguing parliament. Staunch, highly respected members of the government’s own party were disbarred from party membership when they opposed the prime minister. In February his senior communications advisor attempted to ban certain journalists from an official briefing. That such control is demanded should leave us all very concerned at the future direction of our elected leaders. R Paul Andrew, Harrogate