Unravelling democracy causes chaos

What a ghastly pile of steaming bilge Rosie Duffield’s self-indulgent, antidemocratic rant was [‘Weak and wobbly Theresa not serving best interests of our city’, January 24].

Nobody actively wants to be disadvantaged. But then there’s no evidence we will be, beyond uncertainty and a short term interruption to continuity. Above all, we are a democracy. It’s clear this labour MP holds very little value for democracy, instead following a clueless leader whose only position is to not have one. I’m no defender of the PM, who through poor judgement, dogged obstinacy and Remainer instincts failed to navigate the negotiations wisely. But the task, always challenging, has now become an impossible one, given everyone increasingly feels entitled to a personably agreeable outcome. But like her leader Corbyn the opportunistic Marxist, Rosie Duffield has no Brexit strategy, just a list of shared concerns. What normally would look like an MP dutifully mindful of local issues appears This high-impact shot, taken by Mike Sole at his home in Kingston, shows the perfect outline of an unfortunate pigeon that flew into his window. Thankfully, the bird survived.

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n I would support R G Barton’s letter, against the comments made by Peter from Ospringe in his letter published on January 13.

The facts are that Churchill made only one major speech on his feelings as to Europe’s future. That was 70 years ago, on September 19, 1946, when he called for the creation of “a United States of Europe”.

Churchill only urged a Franco- German partnership to lead his vision of a new Europe. He declared that Great Britain and the British Commonwealth, along with the US and USSR, should be “friends and sponsors”. The words used are clear - not a member of the project. He never did talk of the UK becoming a member itself. I quote from his own recorded written words: “We are with Europe, but not of it.” He then went on to write: “We are linked, but not comprised.”

That ambiguity has haunted Britain’s relationship with its continental neighbours ever since, culminating in the UK referendum vote on June 23 for Brexit.

I feel if Churchill was alive today, he would have had very strong words to say, as he always believed in our Parliament being totally sovereign in making the laws of our country. By his written words above, he never gave any inference to that. His written words were only his thoughts on avoiding further wars in the Continent of Europe. He would never have accepted other countries, or as now the EU, making our laws outside of our Parliament.

By Brexit, we are doing exactly as he foresaw: “We are linked, but not comprised.”