Editorial Comment:
sir – The wonder is not so much that, with the proroguing of Parliament, Boris Johnson has again confounded those whose prejudice blinds them to his courage and abilities; it is that anyone still takes seriously the outrage of Remainers.
For them to accuse the Prime Minister of conducting an undemocratic coup so shortly after plotting their own so-called government of national unity – excluding anyone in favour of upholding the largest mandate in British history – is beyond parody.
After the obfuscation and procrastination of the Theresa May years, thank goodness we now have a leader. Tim Coles
Carlton, Bedfordshire
sir – At a time when we need cool heads and considered judgment, it is sad to hear political leaders inciting people to take to the streets in protest at the prorogation of Parliament.
For three years, MPS have warned of the dangers of Leave extremists taking to the streets against Parliament’s actions to thwart the referendum result; but very little has occurred other than limited, civilised protest. Now, some prominent MPS regard civil unrest as a legitimate response, sowing seeds that could yet reap a whirlwind.
For many, Parliament lost its legitimacy when, after giving overwhelming support to an in-out referendum in 2016, it did everything in its power to nullify the result.
Parliament is now undermining the last chance of a negotiated deal before turning its firepower against a no-deal Brexit. If it succeeds, our democracy will have died – but not in the way protesters are claiming. Rod Barrett
Bromley, Kent
sir – The legality and morality of prorogation can and will be debated and contested, but to insist that it has been done for reasons other than Brexit is unwise and an insult to the intelligence of the electorate. Dr David Shoesmith
York
sir – It is clear that the opposition to leaving with no deal is a cover for those wishing to reverse the referendum result and remain in the EU.
The EU knows this and is relying on them to stop Britain leaving. The Government is now fighting for the people’s Brexit against the EU, the Commons Speaker and the Remainers. What have we come to?
His Honour Lord Parmoor
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
sir – I listened with incredulity to the suggestion by Lord Kerslake that civil servants should consider refusing to carry out legitimate, legal instructions from the Government where those instructions do not accord with their own preferences.
I assume that, as a former head of the Home Civil Service, he realised the significance of what he was saying. This only goes to illustrate how detached senior establishment figures are from the ordinary voting public. Their idea of what constitutes democracy is self-interested, and they were never going to facilitate Brexit.
Their current outrage is clearly a confection borne out of frustration, but it’s a great shame that it has taken three years of national turmoil for this to become clear to all. Christopher Timbrell
Kington Langley, Wiltshire
sir – Congratulations to Boris Johnson on taking decisive action to help finally secure Britain’s exit from the EU and in so doing honouring the referendum result of three years ago.
He has shown the leadership we
require at this time. As to the opposition parties, the SNP basically opposes everything that doesn’t further its narrow objective of Scottish independence. The Lib Dems are openly anti-brexit and recently campaigned under the slogan “B––––– ––s to Brexit” – where was the respect for democracy in that?
Labour has nothing of substance to offer. It says it opposes leaving without a deal, but repeatedly voted against a deal that had been agreed by all other EU members. Labour also had nothing constructive to offer when Theresa May entered into negotiations with the party in an effort to find an agreed way forward.
No doubt much can still happen between now and October 31, but there does appear to be a positive momentum that was sadly lacking before. Michael Kidd
Dundee
sir – What the Prime Minister has done is not a “constitutional outrage”, as the Speaker described it; and it was certainly not done, as has been reported, with the “agreement” of the Queen. Constitutionally, she had to approve it. Her opinion is, properly, neither a factor nor known.
Over the past three years, due to the behaviour of those in Parliament, this country has not been governed. The manifesto promises of 2017 have been ignored, and we have become rudderless: heading for economic downturn, with justice fast disappearing, and the old and destitute ignored. On top of that we have problems in immigration, foreign policy, the NHS, housing, education and defence.
The suggestion that proroguing Parliament has deprived MPS of time to debate is risible. They have had plenty of time to do that. James Bishop
Wincanton, Somerset
sir – In the midst of the political furore – of which one of the most worrying aspects has been the partisanship of John Bercow, the Speaker, who should be as neutral as the Queen – it was reassuring to read yesterday’s Court Circular. In it the meeting of the Privy Council was recounted clearly and calmly. Elsewhere you featured the dignified and precise proclamation of the prorogation.
Imagine if we had a president who would get involved in these proceedings as much as Mr Bercow. It remains to be seen what the outcome of the Prime Minister’s brave move will be, but if ever we needed a demonstration of the benefits of an
apolitical monarchy, Wednesday morning’s events provided it. David Pearson
Haworth, West Yorkshire
sir – Have Boris Johnson and his right-hand man Jacob Rees-mogg just sounded the death knell of the United Kingdom? Bryan A Bishop
King’s Lynn, Norfolk
sir – The Brexit problem was caused by MPS voting Remain in Parliament when their constituents voted Leave in the referendum. David Sadler
Sheringham, Norfolk
sir – I would be concerned if, amid the sound and fury, any of those protesting were Leavers.
But to a person, and shouter of “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn”, they all appear to be Remainers, including our “impartial” Speaker. Ride it out, Boris. Edward Thomas
Eastbourne, East Sussex
sir – It is unfair to blame the EU for a refusal to negotiate (Letters, August 29). The EU did negotiate the Withdrawal Agreement with the government of Theresa May, who had the executive power to sign it.
It was Mrs May that continued to insist that the Withdrawal Agreement must pass, despite the repeated and heavy rejections of Parliament; her farewell speech even repeated her claim that it was “a good deal”.
Since then, there has been little point in the EU engaging with a Government with no majority, beholden to a Parliament that has rejected anything before it.
The EU should wait to see what stable government emerges before considering any move. Thomas Quinn
Manchester
sir – Britain has tried to negotiate with the EU but has shown no strength, yielding at every stage.
Now we approach the possibility of negotiating again, but this time we are sending a message that our position is strong – and already we are seeing a different response.
The Prime Minister knows that some MPS are seeking to serve their own agendas; and that, in doing so, they will weaken Britain’s position. By proroguing Parliament, he is resisting attempts to thwart his work to secure a better deal for Britain, and is acting in accordance with the instructions given to Parliament by voters. Peter Chennell
Wimborne, Dorset
sir – I, along with 17.4 million others, voted in 2016 to leave the EU. We did not vote for any specific deal. The question on the ballot paper was quite clear: Leave or Remain.
It is time for those MPS campaigning against leaving the EU without a deal to come clean. They should tell the truth: that they want to remain in the EU. They should stop using “no deal” phraseology right now.
But if they told the truth any support that they have would vanish.
Their indignation at the announcement that Parliament is to be prorogued was of course expressed by them as being anti-democratic. They continually quote “democracy” as their reason for acting as they do, yet it is they who flout democracy and they should be reminded of that. Andrew Ash
Market Harborough, Leicestershire
sir – Me-mocracy: noun, acceptance of democracy only when the outcome of that process suits an individual or group interest; equally, the dismissal or denial of democracy (to others) when that process does not suit an individual or group interest. Paul Flynn
Standish, Lancashire
sir – The Remainers do not like it up them, Mr Mainwaring. Liddle Stokoe
Ashtead, Surrey
sir – I am scared by angry cyclists and motorists, and sometimes by bumps in the night, but I am not scared of a no-deal Brexit. Jonathan Selby
Richmond, Surrey
sir – Who is in charge of this country, Boris Johnson or Gina Miller? Kevin Dowling
Welbourn, Lincolnshire
sir – I know the 18th century is not widely studied these days, but I am surprised that no one has drawn a parallel between the notorious Fox-north coalition of 1783 and today’s unholy alliance between unscrupulous Tory Remainers and the unprincipled chancers who run the Labour Party.
Charles James Fox and Lord North had nothing in common except for a desire for power at the expense of a more popular leader (Pitt). By uniting their forces they formed a majority, duly presenting themselves (not in a taxi) to an unwilling George III as an alternative government.
A short unpopular administration followed, the only memorable achievement of which was finally to sign away the American colonies (largely caused by the unwelcome intervention of France).
At the general election which soon followed, Pitt’s supporters achieved huge gains, particularly where the popular vote was strong. The judgment on Fox’s supporters was harsh, with many losing their seats. These unfortunates were popularly dubbed “Fox’s Martyrs”.
Who knows? In a few months some well-known faces might be wishing they had studied history a little more carefully. C J Ebeling
Ware, Hertfordshire
sir – Outrage at prorogation assumes that Parliament always acts in the best interests of the nation. In 1832, Parliament did everything possible to delay, neuter or kill the Great Reform Bill – now seen as a cornerstone in the development of democracy. David Birt
Worcester
sir – There is an old saying that a nation gets the politicians it deserves. Surely we can’t collectively have been that naughty? Peter Ward
Welling, Kent