In this battle between Commons and the people, the Government is on the people’s side

Sir – The BBC has reported the current situation in Westminster as a battle between Parliament and the Government. That is wrong. It is a battle between Parliament and the people, with the Government on the side of the people.

We voted to leave the EU and there was no question of conditions of any sort. We then elected some 85 per cent of the current MPS on the basis of manifesto commitments to comply with and implement the referendum result.

What gives MPS in a supposedly democratic country the right to ignore the wishes of those people who elected them on those manifestos?

Geoffrey Wyartt

Newent, Gloucestershire

Sir – We are in a political crisis because the Government is implementing the pledge in its party manifesto.

Mick Ferrie

Mawnan Smith, Cornwall

Sir – I think I can clarify the position for Andrew Pierce (Letters, September 3), who asks whether it is Philip Hammond or David Gauke who is now the Leader of the Opposition.

It is in fact neither. That post is now held by John Bercow, nobly combining two onerous roles, and it is the nation’s good fortune that he is neither accountable nor sackable.

Tony Morgan

Taunton, Somerset

Sir – Will October 14 be our Battle of Hustings?

Mary Moore

Croydon, Surrey

Sir – If a general election is held on October 14 this would coincide with the festival of Succot (Tabernacles) and many Orthodox Jews would be disfranchised if they were not registered for postal voting.

Laurence Miller

Manchester

Sir – Hilary Benn’s Bill wants the Prime Minister to request from the EU a further extension of the Brexit deadline to January 31, in the event of no progress in talks on removing the backstop and to prevent a no-deal.

If on January 31 there is still no agreement, will the Remainers accept a no-deal exit?

Michael Ryan

Northmoor, Oxfordshire

Sir – Michel Barnier (Comment, September 1) says that the backstop “is not about changing the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. That is none of the EU’S business…” Yet that is precisely what the backstop does do.

He goes on to say that “the backstop fully respects the carefully negotiated balance found in that [Belfast/good Friday] agreement between competing political views and different identities in Northern Ireland”. He is wrong. That is why Unionists oppose it and why the UK Government, having listened and learnt, now insists that the backstop must go.

It is true that the backstop avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland, but it does so at the expense of the “carefully negotiated balance” in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

As it stands, the backstop is not a legally operational solution, as it is not in keeping with the spirit and letter of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. We need to think again, and fast.

Merkel and Macron have listened and realised that something has changed, and are open to alternatives. It is time Mr Barnier listened too.

Lord Trimble

London SW1

Sir – At the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, two men were discussing the Brexit referendum. “Here we voted remain. In the North it was different, as they are not so well informed.”

As a proud Northerner, I decided some prejudices are so ingrained that rebuttal is futile. So I went to get a cup of tea.

Sarah Dodd

London NW6

Sir – It may be of interest to Conservatives in Philip Hammond’s seat (and in others constituencies) that in the party’s constitution, under Schedule 7, if 50 members or 10 per cent of the association (whichever is fewer) sign a petition to the chairman, a special general meeting must be called to discuss their concerns.

Perhaps the executive committee should see if Mr Hammond enjoys the same level of support with the wider members as he does with themselves.

Jack William Ruddy

Stourpaine, Dorset

Sir – Why does the BBC persist in broadcasts from the area opposite the Houses of Parliament?

The background is a sea of EU flags and endless bellowing from a leatherlunged protester. We viewers are pretty fed up with the whole mess.

C W Joll

Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

Sir – At last, a dog-loving Prime Minster. I hope Dilyn will be able to have a dog passport.

Susan Hunt

Cirencester, Gloucestershire