Sir, – Boris Johnson says, in his letter to his prime minister: “In that respect we are truly headed for the status of colony – and many will struggle to see the economic or political advantages of that particular arrangement”. Indeed, in a former context, many Irish people experienced that struggle. Does this statement make Boris Johnson a revisionist historian? How reassuring. – Yours, etc,
PADRAIGIN RIGGS,
Bishopstown,
Cork.
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Sir, – The UK is anything but “a real democracy” (Robert Sullivan July 11th). An unelected head of state in perpetuity, a completely unelected parliamentary upper house (the House of Lords), no proportional representation, a system of single-seat constituencies blighted with so-called “safe” seats, and only three UK-wide referendums in its entire history.
With the 2016 Brexit referendum, Gibraltar – although not in the UK but did participate – voted 96 per cent to remain, along with Scotland 62 per cent and Northern Ireland 56 per cent, and all about to be forced out of the EU in defiance of the expressed wishes of the local electorates in this so-called era of devolution and subsidiarity. Complete democracy? I think not. – Yours, etc,
B ROBINSON,
Daingean,
Co Offaly.