Our politicians need to listen to people, not think tanks

It has occurred to me that governments and would-be governments appear to be advised by business and pressure groups, which then tell the people what they need.

Currently, the Labour Party are taking advice and guidance from the Fabian Society as to the policies and governance offered to the electorate. No doubt the Tories take advice from other groups of interested parties which has led to the reduction of living standards over the past 12 years.

Of course, the government has to take a rounded view of the needs of the country, but I have never been asked for my opinions on policies or legislation. Why not ask the people what their needs are, and instead use that as a template for future governance?

We can’t trust our current batch of MPs to take our message back to government, so why not have a method of ensuring that the electorate’s message is heard loud and clear?

Keith Poole Basingstoke

Proverb 20:23

That Church of England bishops are still refusing to recognise same-sex marriage in its churches redefines the ridiculous anachronism that has become par for the course with the institution.

The choice is simple: as a private religious group The Church of England is absolutely entitled to hold its own esoteric dogma and further entrench its own obsolescence, but with unelected seats in government, control over a quarter of the country’s primary schools in England, and the power to solemnise legal marriages, it must also recognise state equality legislation.

Neil Barber Edinburgh

Remainers won’t stick around for long

I fully agree with Mick O’Hare’s views regarding Brexit (The elephant in the room, The Big Read, Friday). As a Liberal Democrat since the mid-1950s, I believe we must get off the fence and state clearly that we believe that the UK will be significantly better off as a member of the EU.

There are thousands of voters who believe the same, and who currently have no party to whom they can offer their support. At this moment we cannot define a timescale, but a start would be to align the UK with the single market conditions. The Lib Dem hierarchy must seize this opportunity.

Jim White Uckfield

Low traffic areas could be a great thing

I live near a trial Low Traffic Neighbourhood. From enduring a thundering 2,000 cars per day, with some residents newly diagnosed with asthma due to the perpetual smog, things are now better.

Initially and inexplicably, the bollards installed to enforce the legislation were made of rather floppy plastic. These were quickly destroyed by vandals, and residents have since been enduring daily abuse trying to maintain the LTN in any way they can (often as human bollards).

Oxford City Council promised us proper metal bollards, but months have gone by and nothing has been done. Escalating

tensions from anti-LTN thugs (as well as conspiracy theorists) are going to result in someone getting injured or killed if nothing is done soon.

Dr Daniel Emlyn-Jones Oxford

Bonfires and vanity

It’s not surprising that the Tories want a bonfire of regulations when, within a few months of each other, two of their leaders have been fined for breaking health and safety laws (Sunak fined for not wearing seatbelt in social media clip, News, Saturday).

Rishi Sunak may never recover his authority. After all, he must be the first prime minister who – upon broadcasting his views – has been told by the police to “belt up”.

Roger Hinds Surrey

Rulebreakers should pay a hefty toll

A £50 fine for breaking covid lockdown rules? £100 for not wearing a seat belt? Where will it all end, and just how much of a deterrent is this?

In Switzerland (and currently under consideration in France) motorists are fined a percentage of their annual income for motoring offences. That’s what I call a fair punishment.

Geoff Forward Stirling

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