Our democracy is broken – a written constitution is a matter of urgency

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As a republican, I believe that there is no place for an unelected hereditary monarch in a modern democracy. However, until recently I consoled myself with the thought that the monarch was the last line of defence against an over-mighty government, and I held out some hope that the Queen might refuse a request to suspend parliament and so avoid the mistake of her ill-fated predecessor in 1629.

How wrong I was! It now seems that the monarch is only there to do the bidding of the government, even when it is headed by an unelected prime minister. In any contention between the executive and the supposedly sovereign legislature, the monarch will take the side of the government against the elected representatives of the people.

We now urgently need a written constitution so that this kind of imbroglio cannot happen again, and this constitution must not make any provision for suspending parliament except for general elections.

Abolishing the monarchy is not yet a matter of urgency, provided that the monarch is required to abide by the constitution and to acknowledge the absolute sovereignty of the elected legislature. The constitution should also require that a general election be held whenever there is a change of prime minister, so that people in general, not just the members of a self-appointed minority pressure group, can assent to the appointment of whoever is governing them.

Until this is done, we have to accept that the Mother of Parliaments is no longer fit to claim its historical place in the development of democracy.

Sam Boote
Keyworth

Running out of partners

If we don’t pay the £39bn divorce bill, we get no trade deal with the EU. If congress doesn’t agree (and it won’t if the Irish border problem isn’t resolved), we don’t get a trade deal with the US. But we shouldn’t worry because we still have the goods-only trade deal with the Faroe Islands!

Sarah Pegg
Seaford

Not to be trusted

The Conservatives, who have so casually suspended parliament for political convenience, clearly cannot be trusted with our democracy.

We do not yet live in a banana republic, but this government’s action should be a warning to all democrats, and electors need to be reminded of this at the next election.

Arthur Streatfield
Bath

Hamish Henderson remembered

Among the Brexit furore, it was pleasing to note that the late Hamish Henderson is to be honoured in the Scottish parliament next week with a debate and a reception recognising him as one of the “most brilliant Scots of his age”.

A poet, academic, linguist, songwriter and ethnologist, his work was central to the folk revival of the 1950s in Scotland. He also had a distinguished war service in North Africa and Italy and helped Jewish people escape Nazi Germany. Hamish was also heavily involved in the peace movement, anti-Apartheid campaign and campaign for Scottish Home Rule.

His two great compositions “Freedom Come All Ye”, which was sung to mark the opening of the Scottish parliament and “Farewell to Sicily” stand well the test of time.

A great internationalist, in this period of Brexit angst we could well do with a world with a few more individuals of the calibre of Hamish Henderson.

Alex Orr
Edinburgh

What about those who didn’t vote?

In all interviews with Leave supporters they chant the mantra “17 million, 17 million”.

This should be challenged by asking about the 13 million. These are the registered voters who did not use their vote in 2016. Both sides of the argument ran shabby campaigns running up to the vote.

There are a number of people who never exercise their vote, but I keep having conversations with people who could not make a decision based on what they were being told. Many of them now have an opinion that they wish to express. Add to them younger, newly registered voters and the argument for another referendum becomes compelling.

Please challenge the chant of 17 million.

Frank Booth
Hawick

Boris Johnson is bypassing the people

The UK parliament is made up of MPs that are elected by the voters of their constituencies. Those MPs are elected to be the representatives of their voters. By proroguing parliament Boris has effectively made it so that the entire population of the UK has no representation in the Houses of Parliament.

Boris has invalidated any claim to the concept of “will of the people” as he has denied the people representation in the House of Commons. He has effectively given a two-fingered salute to the people of this country who look to him to safeguard and promote their country, their livelihoods and their future. He has shown that he is no advocate of democracy and, as such, is unfit to hold the office of prime minister.

Steff Watkins
London