I agree with Chuka Umunna – let's build a horseshoe-shaped chamber for a new era of politics
Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.I think that Chuka Umunna’s recently published pamphlet is the most interesting political document I have seen in a long time, not least the thinking on the case of the debating chamber.
I have long argued that the refurbishment of the parliament buildings should be used as an opportunity to build a new non-confrontational chamber on a different site. This would also free up the refurbished building for other beneficial uses, including perhaps a mixed housing project and other valuable social and community spaces. The Commons chamber could then be turned into a tourist attraction where famous debates could be played out by actors, with tourists and other members of the public playing roles as MPs. Could also be quite a useful income stream.
David Buckton
Cambridge
Damian Hinds should go
In a week when youth knife crime has been recognised as a national crisis, the extraordinary situation of an education secretary who is too busy to discuss school funding with head teachers (who are clearly at the end of their tether) is shameful. Damian Hinds should resign.
David Lowndes
Selhurst
More transparency needed
It might clear up the confusion as to what has happened to the increased education budget if we knew what proportion of it was spent on free schools and expanded grammar schools. None of these bear any relationship to local need and probably account for the current mess.
Joanna Pallister
Address supplied
Just give up, will you?
Jeremy Corbyn has said that Theresa May must accept that defeat on Tuesday would “represent an unprecedented failure in British political history”. I so wish it weren’t worth saying, but Jeremy clearly does not understand the scale of the disaster that is about to befall our poor little country or his part in its downfall. The collision of a Tory party terrified of its Eurosceptic dinosaurs and a Labour Party led by a committed anti-EU dinosaur truly does represent an unprecedented failure in British political history. I weep.
Beryl Wall
London W4
Try, try try again!
Cannot Ms May accept that when MPs say no, then NO means NO?
Peter Erridge
East Grinstead
Time for a revolution
Lest we forget; the Conservative Party caused it, the Conservative Party supported it, and thankfully, they botched it!
Seize the day! We’ve already slipped from 5th to 6th in the Ivy League of wealthy nations. Just think of how much could have been put right at home with the money they’ve squandered, trying to cover up David Cameron’s monumental misjudgements to save party credibility, and de facto, their own skins.
Listen to these charlatans no more. They fed lies into a cesspit situation and so muddied the waters that they could no longer see the way forward themselves. They’re caked in the stench of their own tepid ammonia – complicit, and driven solely by personal greed at the expense of all else. So now there’s a lingering and lasting stench about everything they do. Karma?
Michael Cunliffe
Ilkley
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments