Will Hutton states that the emergence of a left-of-centre alternative to Labour is no longer inconceivable (“Labour’s leadership is at rock bottom – it won’t be forgiven for conniving in a rightwing Brexit”, Comment). He is quite right. Indeed, such a new organisation is badly needed.
The two old, class-based parties have served their time and are now, as Hutton points out, riven by discord. A new coalition embracing principled people of moderate views across the party spectrum is surely a real possibility. The aims – support for a reformed EU, a commitment to a mixed economy and an improved environment – suggest themselves without much difficulty. The creation of such a grouping should be the New Year resolution of all of us committed to a sane and practical solution to Britain’s malaise.
The Rev Andrew McLuskey
Stanwell, Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey
Because Will Hutton dislikes “the rightwing coup that is Brexit”, he wants a second referendum. But this time, he says, the vote must be aided by two “reciprocal commitments from Europe”. Here I lose his plot.
First, “the multiple derogations from freedom of movement used by other EU states must be codified into a new deal”. I am wondering what those derogations are. The principle of freedom of movement of people is applied subject to a host of EU law that obliges member states, respecting subsidiarity, to adapt their domestic social and labour legislation to conform to the EU norm. As the article 50 process exposes again and again, diverging from the free movement of people compromises the operation of the internal market and impairs the concept of EU citizenship.
Second, Hutton says he is “not recommitting to the same old EU – but one committed to change”. This jars. If there is stagnation it is British, not European. In fact, it is difficult to keep up with the pace of change in Brussels. While the UK has been toying with Brexit, the EU has got on with the business of a banking union and consolidation of the euro. The court of justice breaks new ground in terms of the rule of law. The EU has set high standards in data protection and is making progress in regulating the digital market. It is the world leader in combating global warming. Measures are being taken to better integrate security and defence policy. EU reform goes gradually and steadily in a federal direction.
If the UK is prepared to play a full part in European integration, it will be welcome to stay a member state. But yet another generation of British politicians preaching glibly about “EU reform” while not bothering to engage with European reality is unhelpful. Worst of all would be to promote another popular vote on the basis of false promise.
Andrew Duff, visiting fellow, European Policy Centre
Cambridge
Your rubbish, Spurs fans
When I pay my taxes, I cannot direct how the money should be spent (“London streets ‘too dirty’ for super-rich Spurs”, News). I might well feel that litter and dirty pavements affect the enjoyment of my home and community but I realise that the local authority has other priorities, including life-saving care responsibilities that are already squeezed by budget cuts. I’m sure Spurs fans would volunteer to pick up litter if the club really cannot spare £8,000 per clean-up.
Jennifer Rees
Cardiff
Sovereignty a la Trump
Donald Trump is once again wielding his individual power on foreign policy (“White House chaos grows as top envoy quits and markets tumble”, World). His heavy-handed approach, with little consultation with international leaders and allies, represents a major shift in the concept of sovereignty; a move away from the modern perception where states work co-operatively, back to a more traditional view of sovereignty.
Taking troops out of Syria with almost immediate effect and having a “destructive America First perspective on the world” fits into the traditional view, where the state is the highest power and domestic policy is put first. Does an ego-fuelled far-right Republican truly have these ideas of sovereignty and a disregard for the international political system or are his actions driven by a need constantly to assert authority and power simply for individual gain?
Frances Clutterbuck
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey
So much for the rule of law
I wonder if others picked up the extraordinary irony in Mark Townsend’s article “Death-sentence courts in Pakistan ‘are funded by UK’” (News). While the UK government continues to supply arms to Saudi Arabia and train Saudi bomber pilots in north Wales, and the Saudis continue to bomb Yemen, causing the deaths of some 60,000 and leaving half the population of 28 million facing starvation (as you report in Notebook Cardiff, News), we read that “the Foreign Office is supporting specialist civilian courts in Pakistan that prosecute terrorist suspects in what the UK government’s global security strategy calls a ‘rule of law’ programme in that country”.
Later in the article, we read that Pakistan’s anti-terrorism act defines terrorism as “any threat designed to create a ‘sense of fear or insecurity in society’”. All UK politicians and the Conservative party in particular, take note.
Dr Nick Maurice
Marlborough, Wiltshire
Plight of Gaza’s Christians
Donald Macintyre draws attention to the plight of Christians in Gaza but largely ascribes their problems to the actions of Israel (“Faithful few: can Gaza’s Christian community survive?”, Special Report). He admits that only a small minority of Palestinian Christians (but too many) do not get Israeli permits to attend worship outside Gaza at Christmas, but makes no mention of the appalling regime under which they live for the rest of the year. Churches and other Christian institutions have been attacked. There are reports of Christians being kidnapped. At best, they are “placed under great and continuous pressure”, according to one report.
Terry Philpot
Limpsfield Chart, Surrey
Voting? It’s child’s play
The article in the Magazine, “Give kids the vote”, had one flaw: the children you quote are intelligent, educated and well-informed. At large, a greater proportion of adult voters is uneducated and ill-informed and therefore less enlightened. This tends to tip the balance.
William Wood
Maulds Meaburn, Cumbria
Free festive parking for all
I fully endorse your dig at the unfair system and disproportionate charges for parking enforcement (“From petty parking fines to outrageous utility bills, 2018 has been quite a year”, Cash). Could I add a seasonal addendum? Christmas is the season for visiting friends and relatives, which may mean a journey. Rail services shut down on Christmas Day and in Brighton and Hove there are no buses – quite rightly on both counts. But parking restrictions still apply, which the council attempts to justify with rather dubious logic such as increased demand on public holidays. Really?
With most shops shut and very few people at work, I suspect that the reality is another opportunity to “print money”. And there is inconsistency, as illustrated by free parking on all bank holidays in Westminster, which I’m sure is well used by MPs. As a gesture of goodwill, I’d propose that all councils allow free parking on Christmas Day. It would give wardens a day off to boot.
Dr John Trounce
Hove, East Sussex
Jurassic spark
When you refer to the altercation between John Humphrys and David Dimbleby as a clash of the big beasts (News), presumably you meant dinosaurs?
Pete Foster
Devizes, Wiltshire
