The PM’s judgment

SIR – One would have thought that Boris Johnson might have learnt from his errors of judgment over Dominic Cummings and Matt Hancock, and to a lesser extent “Wallpapergate”.

However, the Owen Paterson own goal shows the opposite to be the case. The Prime Minister appears to think that if he can get away with something then it is the right course to pursue. Unfortunately, this attitude is quickly losing him support, because he appears untrustworthy to voters.

This does not bode well for what is likely to be a difficult next year or so. The country may need a new leader to navigate the choppy waters ahead.

Kim Potter

Lambourn, Berkshire

SIR – I feel sorry about what has happened to Owen Paterson, although I am rather shocked at how much he was being paid as a “consultant”.

I believe it is a good thing for MPs to have other jobs as it keeps them in touch with the world of work outside politics, but these should be normal jobs with normal rates of remuneration, not something vague like a consultant.

However, it does seem to me that prominent figures from the Leave campaign are far more likely to face censure from public bodies than prominent figures in the Remain campaign, and that too many in high office are trying to punish those who helped us leave the EU. What Darren Grimes had to go through is a prime example of this, and it is noticeable that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has condemned far more Leavers than Remainers.

This makes ordinary people like me wonder if such public bodies can be trusted to be impartial anymore.

Andrew Rixon

Hertford