The defence secretary’s move to let veterans off in times of war will open the floodgates for oppression

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

Penny Mordaunt’s claim that the UK could opt out of the European Convention on Human Rights in times of war opens the gates of oppression.

Rights abusers habitually declare a state of emergency or war to justify their wrongdoing. Remember, we are in a long term war with terrorism.

This can be used as an excuse for the permanent suspension of human rights. While the suspension will be initially for right-wing or Islamic groups, the government could soon yield to the seductive temptation to spread it to its political opponents.

Henry the Eighth powers are easy to apply and attractive to have.

Francis Beswick
Stretford

Trump’s visit will send the wrong message

It’s hard to believe that the US head of state has been invited to share a carriage ride down the Mall with the Queen. This is a state that has, in effect, declared war on Iran with its economic embargo. It threatens to punish any country or company that does business with Iran.

Our invitation sends the wrong message that Washington’s insatiable and bellicose urge to exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction is OK with us. So much for a rules-based international order.

Yugo Kovach
Dorset

Brexit made us a laughing stock

Dear Sandra, Letters 14 May, why don’t you make a nice pot of tea and settle down to read the morning newspapers from around the world for 24 June 2016. You will find that, with few exceptions, the rest of the world roared with disbelieving laughter at the result of our referendum. It is now, I suggest, apart from the likes of Trump and Putin, patiently waiting for us to wake up and realise our mistake.

David Rose
Sutton Coldfield

Abstention is a vote for Brexit

If Theresa May’s plan returns to parliament next week and, as rumoured, Jeremy Corbyn instructs Labour MPs to abstain, then this voter will consider every abstention to be a vote for Brexit. Abstention is not a neutral stance; it is tacit endorsement of the PM’s policy.

Ian Hurdley
Ferndown

Not a Derby County supporter

Sorry, Mark Critchley, but Derby’s wait for the Premiership is shorter than that of Leeds. Have you forgotten 2007-8?

Phil Parkin
Derby

The people want the filth

Hang on, Sean O’Grady (“When mass murder can be live-streamed, ditching Jeremy Kyle won’t curb our urge to gawp” 16 May), real people watch this filth and they enjoy it.

I’d be more convinced by the current moral outrage if a few million people had reached for the off switch many years ago to stop it in its tracks.

The same simple action applies to all the other exercises in public humiliation which currently “grace” the television screens of the nation.

Glynne Williams
London E17

Israel’s charmed life

I’m just a simple old chap who wonders how it is that Israel qualifies to enter the Eurovision song contest; host the Eurovision song contest; compete in the Euro football competition and enjoy a charmed life in avoiding any unpleasantness resulting from of a myriad of UN critical resolutions (“Tourists come face-to-face with Eurovision’s darker side: ‘No pride in apartheid’” 15 May)?

Does anyone have a plausible explanation?

Eddie Dougall
Walsham le Willows