Andrea Leadsom is wrong – nothing could be more democratic than a second referendum

Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

What an astonishing statement from Andrea Leadsom. The Commons leader announced that “democracy is not about trying again until you get the result you want”. But surely that is exactly what democracy is about, otherwise we’d just hold one general election and that would be the outcome in perpetuity. What else does democracy mean other than repeated attempts by individual voters and parties to change the status quo. Democracies change their minds, that’s the whole point.

Michael O’Hare
Northwood

It would be nice if Andrea Leadsom would stop lecturing us on democracy.

Apparently she just argued that democracy was not about going on and on with votes until dissenters get a result that they like. That is exactly how democracy works!

Why else do we have regular general elections? Why else do we have votes in parliament? Democracy is an endless search for the best solution and one vote should never be an end in itself.

As for undermining the role of government by having oversight from parliament – again, that is exactly why parliament has votes.

No one should ever give any government the complete freedom to do what they wish – and certainly not this one, which has demonstrated on countless occasions that it cannot be trusted with the future of the nation.

The referendum did not give this – or any government – the authority to execute a Brexit at any cost. The government was given the authority (by a razor-thin majority that still only represented the active desire of less than 30 per cent of the whole population) to negotiate an exit from the European Union. But holding the reins of government carries an implicit duty of care and an obligation to do it on sensible terms and to find a structure that works for the benefit of the whole country.

This government has manifestly failed to act in anyone’s interests other than those of the hard right. The greater good has been pushed to one side by this intransigent, self-opinionated and utterly incompetent cabinet.

So, Ms Leadsom – when you and your colleagues demonstrate even the slightest competence to deliver what is best for the nation rather than what is best for the Conservative Party, please stop lecturing and instead take that time to learn the basics of doing a decent job as a government.

Simon Carrel
Maidenhead

Why are Brexiteers fearful of Parliament “taking control” of the Brexit process? Michael Gove wonders where we might end up, possibly with no Brexit. At the same time, the prime minister urges the cabinet to maintain focus while she continues to struggle to get her hopeless deal approved. This implies that the only people entitled to throw their weight around are the ERG and DUP.

The country has had enough of their extreme version of Brexit and in a democracy there should be room for a middle course - yes even going so far as a “people’s vote”. What’s to fear Mr Gove, that the result might be different?

Richard Greenwood
Bewdley

As powerless as we are in the madness that has taken over British politics since the referendum, we want to express our wholehearted support for the principles behind the Independent Group and hope that it signals, at the very least, a softening of the Brexit “red lines”.

As Remain voters we are deeply concerned at the blind ideology that is taking us out of Europe without the slightest concerns for its far-reaching consequences – particularly for the next generation.

Anyone with half a rational mind knows that the referendum was, at best, a flawed manoeuvre, designed entirely to allay the constant gripings of the minority Tory right.

The electorate were ill-equipped, to say the least, to make a rational and informed decision on Europe and, given their long-term repressed anger with politics in general, it was no real surprise that they would react in a destructive way at the first opportunity – whatever that opportunity was. As we all know, it is too easy to destroy something good in a fit of anger, only to bitterly regret it when it is too late.

The European Union is far from perfect – there is much that could and needs to be improved – but its principles are honourable and dignified, its goals and ambitions are visionary and worthy – if not always practicable!

In our opinion, our nation should be looking forward to greater cooperation and collaboration with Europe, influencing it from the inside with the pragmatism we are famous for. We should not be looking backwards to an isolated, jingoistic Britain dreaming of how we got to be great (and some of us powerful and wealthy), but working towards even higher goals of a safer, fairer, more prosperous and sustainable world for all.

Can we really put our faith in the elitist Tory right to deliver those same lofty goals with Britain outside of Europe, when experience tells us that they seem only interested in their own dogma and importance.

Please, how can it be undemocratic to give the people another vote in the light of all that we have learnt since the referendum and why are the Brexiteers so afraid of doing so?

A Blackwell & C Bates

Hatton Barns

The hostile environment continues

Day after day The Independent carries reports of despicable “hostile environment” behaviour on the part of the Home Office towards people living in this country who happen not to be white.

Your account of its treatment of Ikram Ullah and his family is just the most recent example to make those of us who care about human rights and common decency embarrassed to be British.

What kind of government is it that not only allows this behaviour to go on but appears not to be remotely ashamed of it?

D Maughan Brown
York

Thanks to those who stand up against antisemitism

Antisemitism at any level within our society is both abhorrent and unacceptable.

Luciana Berger is an MP in a city that has, historically, been a shining example of religious and cultural tolerance and it is deeply concerning to know of the hatred she has experienced, simply because of her Jewish faith and background. No decent person could condone what she and her family have had to endure.

Dame Louise Ellman MP, another longstanding local MP, has remained steadfast in speaking out against those whose extreme views are threatening to destroy our democracy and all it represents. She, too, has been vilified, but has demonstrated unfailing strength and clarity of mind. She has remained true to her belief that the pernicious effects of antisemitism, left unchecked, will ultimately destroy our communities and their once respected institutions.

It demands great courage to take a stand against these shameful attitudes and behaviours and we all owe a debt of gratitude to people of principle, such as Luciana, Louise and others like them, who are prepared to place their heads above the parapet in order to fight for the freedoms and values the vast majority of us hold dear yet, so often, take for granted.

Racism, in all its guises, is a cancer that eats away at the very fabric of civilised society. Those who are working hard to eradicate it, whatever their politics, deserve our fullest support.

The one thing we should all fear is complacency.

Merseyside Jewish Representative Council
Liverpool