Johnson’s act of political desperation
ON Monday night this week, Boris Johnson - a Prime Minister elected by less than one per cent of the population - suspended Parliament for five weeks in order to muzzle debate and avoid scrutiny at a time of grave political crisis.
This was an act of political desperation by a man without a plan and now without a majority. It represents a gross undermining of the principles of Parliamentary sovereignty and democracy - principles that Johnson himself used to trumpet so loudly.
Provoked by Johnson’s extremism, two dozen moderate Conservative MPs including his own brother - have found themselves politically homeless. Politicians across the spectrum have united to block a no deal Brexit, because they know that such a course of action would be immensely damaging to the UK.
It is crystal clear that our UK political system is broken. Our problems growing inequality, communities being ignored, an unsustainable economic model - are homegrown, not due to our membership of the EU. We need to put our own house in order.
That means changing our electoral system so that every vote counts; replacing our own unelected lawmakers (the House of Lords) with something fairer that’s fit for the 21st century; and stopping the distorting influence of big money in politics.
The solution for our ailing democracy is more democracy. This is the only way that people can make themselves heard and counted. I will continue to fight for democratic rights, proper representation and people and planet over profit. Ellie Chowns MEP,
Green MEP for the West Midlands
Vital people eat while in hospital
IT is vital that people eat their food when they are in hospital. We know that often when people are not well they don’t always feel like eating.
Food is vital to keep healthy at all ages and people will stay better for longer. Ian Harris, Radford