A lack of international leadership contributed to the New Zealand terror attacks

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I want to add the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, to my list of international political leaders who are, in my opinion, complicit in the massacres at two Christchurch mosques because of their words, silences, actions and inaction with regard to promoting white supremacy in order to further their own political careers.

The others I mention are Donald Trump, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn. There are many others internationally playing this race-baiting game: Nigel Farage, Viktor Orban, Matteo Salvini, Marine Le Pen, to mention a few.

In Morrison’s case, he has demonised, imprisoned and abused the human rights of thousands of asylum seekers, most of whom are Muslim, both as a minister of the Australian government and as prime minister.

His “condolences” in relation to the massacres in two Christchurch mosques are therefore worthless.

Genevieve Forde
Aotearoa, New Zealand

Wise words

Congratulations on your editorial where you expressed eloquently the sympathy for and solidarity with the people of New Zealand shared by all decent people here. Your analysis of the root and spread of extreme right-wing terrorism was clear and instructive.

In the “long hard slog to counter hate and racism”, there must be strong censure, in whatever way that is available to the media, of a number of politicians for the potential grievous harm they wrought in many of their public statements on race and immigration. Because of their position, they (let us hope without intention) give legitimacy, encouragement, indeed inspiration, to those who seek to kill and destroy. Public figures are in the habit of expressing their horror at racial atrocities committed and their condolences to the victims. Such expressions sound hollow and hypocritical sitting next to their extremely negative stand on immigration and race.

Rosa Wei-Ling Chang
Sheffield

Theresa May is paying her way

Ms May will bring back her deal to the Commons next week – the third time following previous defeats by MPs of historic proportions. It is suspected that the DUP are being given another financial sweetener to support her this time around. Buying votes has historically been a crime but by calling it a confidence and supply agreement, gerrymandering becomes legal. Ms May, her government and the DUP have shown a complete disdain for parliamentary sovereignty and the concept of democracy. When will the parliamentary lions roar?

Rachel McKenzie
London, SE22

No shame in parting ways

To all the Conservative MPs who were Remainers and still believe the UK is better off as a member of the EU: just walk. Leave your party so that your prime minister has an unworkable minority. That does not mean Mr Corbyn and his mates will win the next general election as he, and they, could lose their seats should they decide to stand again. Possibly someone who defects from Labour and the Conservatives might end up being the new leader of the Liberal Democrats, assuming they support middle-ground politics. I think most of us do not believe a short extension to Article 50 is any solution, just for Ms May to insist we still leave with a botched withdrawal agreement. We would still need possibly years to undo our membership and so on. And then somehow start afresh!

Ideally elect as many Liberal Democrats as possible. They are the genuine supporters of our continual membership and would make sure we get the best deal out of that. Don’t write off the Liberal Democrats.

Richard Grant
Hampshire

Democracy demands a Final Say

A closed and narrow country for closed and narrow people is not where I want to live.

A 4 per cent majority is at best a mandate to look into the possibility of leaving Europe, which let’s face it, is what the referendum should specifically have been about in the first place.

Surely the way out of this fix is to go back to where it started – Cameron’s lap. If he would have the strength of character to reappear now and admit that he was so sure of a Remain vote, he didn’t believe he needed to give much thought to the process, and/or he was badgered into it by the heavy hitters.

A new Brexit referendum based on what we now know is the ONLY democratic thing to do.

Here’s hoping.

Nick Lipman
Nottingham

I needed a laugh

Thank you so much for Mark Steel’s latest article. That is the best laugh I have had about Brexit since the result of the vote in June 2016! As you may gather, I am one of those who voted to remain in the EU.

Next, we just need those who got us into our current mess and those who are keeping us there to have their salaries related to their performance.

Apart from marching on 23 March, I now fervently pray that our politicians get on with taking the right actions to help our planet survive. Writing as a 65-year-old, I am extremely grateful that it looks like our younger generation have more sense than the older ones.

Thanks again Mark.

Joan Cooper
Leighton Buzzard