Why do we treat our politicians with such contempt?

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Former Labour Leader Ed Miliband, former deputy Leader of the Labour Party Harriet Harman and Labour MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting attend a vigil in memory of Labour MP Jo Cox on Parliament Square (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Thank you for the editorial reflecting both on the passing of Jo Cox and on the endemic contempt for her erstwhile colleagues at Westminster. On the one hand it brought unavoidable tears and on the other the utmost angry frustration.

Imagine a world in which, instead of our politicians, doctors were uniformly vilified without individual exception. We medics have the occasional and contemptibly venal colleague, but we are generally treated with the respect due to us, allowing us to play effectively our vital part in society.

And, may God forfend, what if it were our angelic nurses who were the target of indiscriminate press vitriol, enough to brainwash the decent and generally honourable populace? Not possible to imagine: so why is this not so for our elected representatives? Such a dreadful and apparently incurable malady.

Professor John Northover
London, W1

Brexit could increase the power of Russia

The main Leave argument centres around sovereignty but in the greater arcs of geo-political history, Brexit would leave UK* vulnerable as a nation state (*UK assuming Scotland stick with us).

Imagine a scenario where Russia starts flying military aircrafts into UK airspace and begins posturing. The UK complains and make a big political hoo-ha but the EU is divided and busy doing EU stuff and isn't forthcoming. The USA has a weak president who either does nothing or escalates the rhetoric. Obviously Nato/UN would step in but the UK would be exposed, weakened.

If this happened again Britain's influence would decline, would lose out economically and likely become more nationalistic (yikes!).

Britain and Russian have a long history together, allying against European aggressors like Napoleon and Hitler, but also a great rivalry; the Cold War. Consider Putin's support for Brexit, Russia's foreign policy and their own political need to either match America's economic imperialism/overseas ambitions, then it's a possibility. If Russia ignores Nato's response to the annexation of Crimea, then that, defensively speaking, could be devastating for the UK in the longer term. Additionally, if the UK starts a precedent in leaving EU, others may follow and weaken Europe in the longer term against future Russian expansion or create a situation where Germany has a far greater global influence than the UK.

If Britain wants to remain near the top political table, then leaving the EU could spell disaster.

Thomas Harvey
Bristol

We cannot blame Leave for the actions of one man

The brutal murder of Jo Cox MP was an evil act.

However, it is disturbing that elements of the BSE/Remain side are attempting to make political capital out of the murder, by trying to use the murder to smear the Leave side.

It is important to remember this. In 2002 a Green activist murdered the right-wing Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn in cold blood. However, no one blamed the Green movement as a whole for this.

In 2004, an Islamic extremist murdered the right-wing Dutch film-maker Theo van Gogh in cold blood. Few people blamed the whole of Islam for this, however.

In 2010 another Islamic extremist tried to murder the Labour MP Stephen Timms. Again, most people knew not to blame Islam as a whole for this.

Yet here are people from the BSE/Remain side trying to blame the tone of the Leave campaign for the murder of Jo Cox. In fact, prior to the murder, most of the unpleasantness, the bile and the sheer nastiness had come from the BSE/Remain camp. It is, therefore, sheer hypocrisy for them to complain now about the tone of the campaign.

The Leave side is not responsible for the actions of an isolated extremist. Furthermore, there are still many good reasons to vote to leave the EU on 23 June.

Alan Hobson
Woodford

Can I keep my EU passport?

I find myself in total agreement with the opinions and feelings expressed by John Carlin in his excellent piece on Friday. Like him, I find the possibility that the UK could vote to leave the EU raises feelings of anger and shame in me. Unlike him, though, I do not have a suitable relative of Spanish, French, Belgian or any other nationality to enable me to apply for an EU passport in the event of the UK no longer providing that facility.

Despite the bland confidence that Boris Johnson, Liam Fox et al seem to have that the UK would be of greater and more positive influence in the world than it is as part of the EU, I think that the perfidy of ripping up and abandoning links with Europe would send a highly negative message to the world in general regarding confidence that future trade agreements would be adhered to by the UK.

A British passport would be like a “Mark of Cain” for all that carried it, and I would rather keep my EU passport (and citizenship) if at all possible. Being associated with a country which seems determined to turn itself into a 1940s theme park is a rather embarrassing prospect, to say the least.

I should like to know whether anyone in the Brexit camp has thought of arrangements for passport renewal/replacement in the event of UK withdrawal from the EU, or are people sympathetic to my views to be deprived of their EU passports against their will?

Alastair Gemmell
Perthshire

We must remember the role of Enoch Powell

A fascinating article by Sean O'Grady, which reminded of me of the brilliance of James Goldsmith (as demonstrated by his famous Money Programme interview from 1977 – I had to watch it again). Also, a reminder of the role of Enoch Powell in both the 1975 referendum and the 1974 elections.

Powell resigned as a Conservative in 1974 (later to join the Ulster Unionists) and urged voters to vote Labour on the issue of Europe believing the Labour would take us out. But the equally brilliant Harold Wilson took the issue to a referendum which has kept us in for 41 years (at least).

Chris Norris
Chippenham

Political leaders weave the pattern of our society

The fabric of any society is woven by its political leaders and it is they who weave the pattern of behaviour of their citizens – and that includes its media in all its latest shapes and forms. As a Scot I have learned that – regardless of outcome – the legacy of a Referendum is division. Such a legacy stems from the conduct of the politicians who lead us.

As leading politicians point score, abuse and demonise their opposition and their politics thus their messages filter through, not just to the party supporters, but also influencing the weak and vulnerable. There should be no surprise or horror that social media runs amok with vitriolic discourse – it stems from the top.

It takes neither brains nor money to have manners or respect but current politics appears to lack both and it suggests that our political leaders and their brands of politics are no longer fit for purpose

Jean Johnston
Helensburgh

What does the Chancellor intend to do about graffiti?

If the Chancellor is looking for areas where he might raise some extra funds might I suggest he takes a look at paint aerosols? Travelling around the country, and in particular by rail, one is struck by the growing amount of graffiti sprayed on practically every surface encountered en route. None of it unfortunately of Banksy standard and which must be costing the authorities vast amounts to paint over only to provide a clean canvas for the perpetrators to use again.

Despite promises some years ago by the Government that drastic action would be taken nothing appears to have be done. It would seem however that rising costs are affecting the creators because more and more of this visual vandalism is appearing in a single colour, namely silver. Thus the introduction of a tax on these products would not only perhaps reduce their use but also the huge costs currently involved in cleaning the surfaces defaced.

Robin Ollington
Norbury