Dear Sir,
If you will permit I would like an opportunity to respond to Councillor Clare’s letter under this heading.
He is concerned as to ‘whether we will have anything left of our stable and tolerant democracy’, I worry more where it has already disappeared to. Waiting for the next General Election is no panacea. I am unaware of any Government (elected since the war years) who fulfilled their Manifesto promises.
True, politics is awash with bullying, name calling etc … and that is most prevalent within the Palace of Westminster where our ‘illustrious political elite’ promenade to the whole world, an appalling example of internecine squabbling for personal or party advantage over their principal trust of caring for the well-being of our Nation. Their promises are meaningless, democracy is twisted by the whips and over-ruled by the personal opinions of our ‘Elected Representatives’. They disgrace and dishonour themselves – worse – in so doing they betray us and we deserve better. Tolerance of such behaviour is past acceptance. Time for a different ‘whip’ – the (metaphorical?) ‘Whip of Cords’. Time for the Cleansing. As a Christian gentleman I am sure the good Councillor will recall the ‘Clearing of the Temple’. If you want confirmation, it’s covered in Ecclesiastes 3 v 1-12
Patience and tolerance would certainly be welcome in our split society. It seems to me that the best way to start is for the leading lights of both Leave and Remain factions to stick to facts and simply tell the truth instead of the emotive outpourings we hear daily. The most potent, the most damaging way to lie is to not tell the whole story; the whole truth.
At present both are polarising their views and, in my opinion, neither are being totally honest. The Government is possibly being less than helpful in not releasing all the facts surrounding Brexit. But in the end each of us has to take our own decision on Brexit and only by examining facts for ourselves can we reach a sound answer. Facts not hype.
I do not try to persuade but must state that my decision is to leave, No Deal. Despite my Member’s opinions, to me to remain under any control whatsoever of the EU, whether it be of market, law, immigration, quotas or other and to continue to be committed to pay hefty subscriptions to them especially without voting rights is not to leave but is to be subjected to a Central European Control. I believe we are much better placed for our future outside the EU than all the scare stories being spread. But that is my belief and I am quite happy to listen to alternative opinions – either over glass or cup or in print and to respect a different view.
Douglas Whittaker
