Sir, – John Bercow has ruled that Theresa May cannot put "substantially the same (Brexit) proposition as that of last week which was rejected by 149 votes" to the House of Commons for a third time ("Theresa May must change Brexit deal for third vote, says speaker", World News, March 18th).
As such, the speaker has thrown a spanner into the British prime minister’s carefully laid plan to pass her withdrawal agreement through parliament by a process of bullying and attrition.
Mr Bercow knows that, due to Brexit, history is being made during his tenure as speaker. He’s determined to play the fullest part in its writing.
He has bravely asserted the supremacy of parliament over the executive.
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In doing so, Mr Bercow has breathed new life into the fight by some MPs for a second referendum.
For example, the Kyle-Wilson motion, which says that parliament will pass Mrs May’s deal if she agrees in return to a confirmatory people’s vote. – Yours, etc,
JOE McCARTHY,
Arbour Hill,
Dublin 7.
Sir, – It is a curious thing, is it not, that the DUP can hold to ransom the parliament at Westminster while failing to form a government at Stormont? – Yours, etc,
EDWARD BAKER,
Tunbridge Wells,
Kent,
United Kingdom.
Sir, – The mother of all parliaments in the mother of all predicaments? – Yours, etc,
VAL O’DONNELL,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – Long churning makes bad butter. – Yours, etc,
STAN COSGROVE,
Kildare.