Let’s not forget – only a third of the electorate actually voted for Brexit

Conservative to Lib Dem defector (and my MP) Sam Gymah’s interview on BBC News yesterday highlighted a fundamental misunderstanding about democratic mandates from both interviewer and interviewee.

He was asked to justify why a majority Lib Dem government that stood on a manifesto pledge to cancel Brexit should trump the referendum result when such a majority might only come from 35 per cent of the electorate, rather than “more than 50 per cent” in the referendum. The truth is that only 34.7 per cent of the electorate voted for Brexit in 2016, a fact that simply can’t be repeated often enough. That and the fact that democracy is a changing snapshot of public opinion.

Stefan Wickham
Oxted

Trump’s idiocy

I see that Donald Trump, during a White House meeting with Bahrain crown prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to discuss his strategy over Iran, boasted to reporters: “We are very high on ammunition now.” His use of the royal “we” suggests that he still has ideas above his station, but at least now he’s taken the first step by admitting that he’s got a problem.

Julian Self
Wolverton

Leave it to the professionals

I do not think that it was simply Boris Johnson missing from the press conference in Luxembourg yesterday, but the United Kingdom as a whole. Even before the extraordinary step of going into political and economic isolation, our country is swiftly disappearing from the christmas card list of many global players.

In the past three years our politicians have demonstrated deplorable inability in their roles, combined with an appalling lack of diplomatic manners, which are both embarrassing and concerning. From the blinkered arrogance of David Cameron – surely the visionary of this mess – through to the blundering incompetence of Theresa May, to the cartoon character of Johnson, we have done ourselves no favours at all, and exposed our complete dysfunctionality to the world.

For those who say that the electorate is to blame, I would counter by stating that we have voted for the best of a very poor and limited choice.

The Brexit catastrophe shows that we have reached the nadir of politics, and surely can only rise from now on. But this can only be achieved through a complete reform of the entire rotten system. Change must include the duty of successful and trusted champions of all the critical components of our infrastructure.

Let health be run by a senior nurse or surgeon, not a party political intern; please allow defence to be run by a senior officer, not by a temp on the greasy political pole; why can transport not be managed by a successful road haulier or freight guru, rather than by someone whose entire qualification for the role is ownership of a bicycle? Put these worthy people in every critical position; pay them well, make them accountable, and we will surely do better.

It is certain we cannot do worse.

Matt Minshall
Norfolk

A cross-party consensus on drug reform in Scotland is required

Your article yesterday commented on reports that Labour will legislate for an evidence-based royal commission on drug policy reform.

It is worth pointing out widely held misconceptions though: decriminalisation typically only refers to the removal of criminal penalties for personal drug possession; legalisation is merely a process, namely of making an illegal drug legal.

The holy grail of drug policy reform has to be regulated legalisation highlighting the end point of reform, including (but not limited to) the controls that will be put in place on the production, supply and use of a drug once it has been legalised.

Under the SNP, Scotland has become the drug death capital of Europe; with 1,136 drug-related deaths last year.

My own constituency Labour party has had a royal commission local policy for five years and earlier this year we adopted a policy promoting regulated legalisation.

I hope and trust Nicola Sturgeon and Ian Blackford do not turn this in to a party political row about independence and IndyRef2. They can and should follow Labour and hopefully a cross-party consensus can develop.

Douglas McBean
Edinburgh

Geography is where the best climate change lessons can be learned

A surprising omission from Chloe Tomlinson’s piece is the ongoing work that teachers do to educate their pupils about climate change – a robust understanding of the issue should be at the heart of any activism.

Pupils’ geography lessons include the requirement that they are taught about how our climate has changed, the nature of our ecosystems, and the importance of sustainability. Climate change has the power to influence so many different parts of our lives, from the crops we can grow and our exposure to hazards to the sustainability of the ecosystems upon which we all rely. Geography addresses all these issues and more through its combination of the natural and social sciences in order to explore the interactions of the world’s people, places and environments.

Regardless of whether pupils are sat in their classrooms or marching on Friday, they all deserve an education that equips them to understand how and why our climate is changing, what this will mean for our lives and what we can all do about it. And studying geography does just this.

Steve Brace
Head of education, Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers)

Johnson no-show

It is unfortunate that the Luxembourg prime minister was unaware of the constitutional convention that replaces a British politician who fails to show with a tub of lard.

Stan Hughes
East Hagbourne

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