MP’S stance is not posturing

Mr Walsh’s rant against our Member of Parliament [‘Unravelling democracy causes chaos’, Letters, February 7] ignores the fact that a majority in the Canterbury constituency voted Remain.

It falsely claims that the 2016 referendum was “the largest ever exercise in democracy ever undertaken in this country”; as Martin Roche pointed out, 13 of the 20 general elections since 1945 saw a higher turnout. As David Davis observed, “if a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy.”

Claims based on what “the people” voted for are dangerous. If we treat the entire electorate as a single people, 37 5% of the electorate voted Leave while 34.7% voted Remain. If we think that there is a Scottish people, in Scotland, 42% of the electorate voted Remain while 26% voted leave. In Northern Ireland, where there are very clearly two “peoples”, 35% voted Remain and 28% voted Leave. Those who share Mr Walsh’s proclivities for ignoring the right of minorities to participate in civil society and for refusing to recognise national identities in Scotland and Northern Ireland threaten chaos – and almost certain bloodshed.

It is absurd to criticise Rosie Duffield for not having a Brexit strategy. She supported Remain and Remain had a strategy – to stay in the EU. Rosie resigned from the front bench to vote in favour of remaining in the EEA and has called for a second referendum. She clearly does have a strategy, which is more than can be said for the Leavers. If the Leave campaign had hammered out a proper plan for leaving then we would not be in the present mess.

The Canterbury Conservative Association’s tweets attacking the Prime Minister’s deal show the divisions between Leavers over how we should now leave.

It is also absurd to identify Rosie Duffield too closely with Jeremy Corbyn. When there were moves to de-select Rosie, Jeremy Corbyn refused to come to her aid – and was strongly criticised for this in a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party. Mr Walsh has only dragged Mr Corbyn’s name into his letter because Jeremy Corbyn is the Conservative Party’s only asset – if Yvette Cooper were leading the Labour Party, Ed Balls would be clearing out Larry’s litter tray.

Nobody has ever suggested that Sir Julian Brazier’s support for Leaving was “political posturing” – he was and is a convinced Leaver. Rosie Duffield is a convinced Remainer. The fact that her opposition to leaving the EU accords with the majority vote in this constituency in the referendum does not make her principled stance posturing. She is entitled to be treated with respect and courtesy.