Letters

Take me to your leader – political chaos in the UK

Tories in turmoil

Fri Oct 21 2022 - 00:12

Sir, – Britain is a democracy. Its PM and her cabinet appointees clearly have no mandate to govern. Surely the only respectable and principled step for the Conservative Party to take now is to hold a general election.

Brexiteers are fond of referring to “the will of the people”.

Let them go out and ascertain it. – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL DEASY,

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Bandon,

Co Cork.

Sir, – To think that David Cameron thought the Brexit referendum in 2016 would solve the differences in the Conservative Party. – Yours, etc,

MARY FLAHAVAN,

Naas,

Co Kildare.

Sir, – Perhaps it is time for the United Kingdom’s politicians to admit that it is not a general election that it is required, but a referendum on rejoining the European Union. – Yours, etc,

MARGARET TREANOR,

Sutton,

Dublin 13.

Sir, – We live in cynical times when politicians are routinely accused of reneging on their promises. But Liz Truss is surely the first political leader in history to be ousted for following through exactly on the promises she made while running for the job. While it’s easy to crow about her demise, we should reflect on what this means for political life more generally.

Centrist politics has already become staid, with leaders eschewing big ideas and favouring incremental change and uncontroversial policies designed to avoid upsetting political, business or media opinion. It’s this form of do-nothing “steady as she goes” politics which has opened the door for extremes of the far-left and far-right across Europe and beyond.

If centrist politicians are unwilling to make bold moves to solve intractable problems, then what’s the point of voting for them? – Yours, etc,

BARRY WALSH,

Clontarf,

Dublin 3.

Sir, – What a pity the late Michael O’Hehir was not broadcasting from Westminster on Wednesday. A shemozzle in the lobby. And an own goal scored.

It would tax even his descriptive powers. – Yours, etc,

JOE GLEESON,

Nenagh,

Co Tipperary.

Sir, – Being no friend of the British Tory party, I watch, admittedly with a touch of schadenfreude, the chaotic goings on in the cabinet, parliament and media in that jurisdiction. However, on mature reflection, I see that Britain, as a global power and long-established democracy, requires a credible and stable government.

We should all prefer to see a more stable Britain of any political hue rather than the pervasive chaos that seems to have set in there in recent years.

Whatever we may think about the general creep to the right or the personal qualities of certain British politicians, it can only be better for Ireland, Europe, and for ensuring populist extremism (left or right) does not win the day. Britain needs a moderate, tempered and functioning government. If such a government is populated by the unpleasant, then so be it. – Yours, etc,

CIARAN McNAMARA,

Drumcondra,

Dublin 9.

A chara, – From Oven Ready to Trussed. What’s next in the Tory cookbook? – Is mise,

EOGHAN Mac CORMAIC,

Cill Chríost,

Gaillimh.

Sir, – A quitter not a fighter! – Yours, etc,

DAVID CURRAN,

Knocknacarra,

Galway.

Sir, – The Conservative Party could easily change its title to the Monster Raving Looney Party. – Yours, etc,

GERARD McCANN,

Belfast.

Sir, – As HL Mencken said about democracy, it has one advantage because " the pain I suffer watching them (politicians) rise is more than compensated by the pleasure I get watching them fall”. – Yours, etc,

DAVID HICKEY,

Balbriggan,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – At the end of her 70-year reign, it seemed inconceivable that any future British monarch might match the late Queen Elizabeth’s experience of working with 15 prime ministers. King Charles will be moving onto his second, however, after only seven weeks on the throne. If he can sustain this pace, he can match Queen Elizabeth’s total in just over two years.

Given the parlous state of UK politics, his mother’s record looks a lot more achievable. – Yours, etc,

BRIAN O’BRIEN,

Kinsale,

Co Cork.

Sir, – Whoever succeeds Liz Truss at No 10 would do well to avoid the spectre of Sir Graham Brady darkening the door.

First order of business, avoid Sir Graham! – Yours, etc,

AIDAN RODDY,

Cabinteely,

Dublin 18.

Sir, – Nothing in her prime ministership became her like the leaving it. – Yours, etc,

PADDY O’FLYNN,

Dublin 6.

Sir, – While I did not always agree with their choices, I would acknowledge that British governments had a well-earned reputation for stability, credibility and basic competence.

With each passing day, it is increasingly evident that this reputation, like their empire, has been consigned to history’s dustbin. – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL McDERMOTT,

Rathgar,

Dublin 6.

Sir, – I wish to ask Janan Ganesh does he not consider integrity, honesty and fairness to be possible qualities that the UK Labour Party may have compared with the complete and utter disregard the Conservative Party seem to have for the UK people (“Britain’s Labour Party will hate every minute of being in power”, World, October 18th).

Surely these are important qualities that are a great starting point for any alternative UK government.

Of course governing is never easy but provided politicians are capable of approaching their work with honesty, integrity and fairness, they will surely be at least able to look after all the UK’s people rather than the current narrow chosen few. – Yours, etc,

SEAN DARCY,

Celbridge,

Co Kildare.

Sir, – Is there an opening for another furniture removal van driver in Westminster? – Yours, etc,

BRENDAN DUNLEAVY,

Killeshandra,

Co Cavan.

Sir, – Brexit claims another political casualty.

Six years, four Tory prime ministers, and counting.

How long will the next one last ? – Yours, etc,

CRAIG DOUGLAS,

Belfast.

Sir, – The politicos in Dublin must be loving the whole performance.

It makes them look like giants. – Yours, etc,

VINCENT HEARNE.

Chinon,

France.

Sir, – Is it is worth considering what sort of country we would have if we were still governed from Westminster? – Yours, etc,

IAN TIERNEY.

Ballinamult,

Co Waterford.