Letter: Parliament loses vote of confidence

Sir: Can we assume that, following our alleged Prime Minister's tactics in linking a sham confidence vote with an issue of national sovereignty, the following amended definitions will be appearing in dictionaries?

democracy n. a system whereby a government that has lost the support of the electorate cynically harnesses the fear thus engendered among its members to create the illusion that it does in fact still command the support of the electorate. (see hypocrisy)

majority n. a stress-related condition which causes that which is actually the smaller part to appear the larger. (fr John Major, British Prime Minister 1991-1993)

mandate n. a curious form of authority allowing those holding it to ride roughshod over the wishes of those by whom it was granted.

Yours faithfully,

ROY SHERIDAN

Hampton, Middlesex

23 July