No place for personal criticism in political discussions

IT is many years since I wrote a letter to the Mail but, after reading the latest letters from Simon Bailey and Rob Milner, I felt I should do so to give a different point of view.

First, after reading with interest in the past the various letters from Norman E Hawkes, Michael Somerton and Daniel Vuilamy, I notice that all three writers based their letters only on provable facts and did not make derogatory remarks about those letter writers who held different opinions from theirs.

Secondly, with reference to the letter from Simon Bailey, it would appear that he does not know how our parliamentary democracy works. It is true that the results of the 2016 referendum were based on the principle of “first past the post”, but what he does not realise is that the only votes which parliament are legally bound to implement are those in general or local council elections.

As far as the 2016 referendum is concerned, although it was permissible in law under our unwritten constitution, the results were not mandatory on parliament to implement; they were only advisory. As it happens, the vote to leave the EU was made into law by parliament. This does not mean, however, that those who voted to remain were not allowed to continue to try and overturn this decision by whatever lawful means they could employ. The conclusion of this, therefore, was that those who voted to leave won “and so get over it”.

Thirdly, referring to the letter from Rob Milner, of course Michael

Somerton has expertise in the area in which he lectured at the University of Hull for many years. but the basis of his letters has nothing to do with the political party to which he belongs.

In a democracy, one is allowed to hold whatever political beliefs one wants, as long as they are not extreme and/or offensive. I really do not want to know Rob Milner’s political beliefs, or his opinion of the previous leader of the Labour Party, or read an attempt by him to denigrate the political beliefs of Michael Somerton.

As soon as one brings personal criticism into any discussion about political matters, one has lost the argument as far as I am concerned. It is essential to keep to provable facts and figures.

Mary Carrick.