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Our MP Kit Malthouse says we should report friends and neighbours to the police if they break the law over Covid.

What hypocrisy, given his support for Boris Johnson’s Internal Market Bill, which by the Government’s own admission, breaks a legal international treaty and threatens the Northern Ireland Peace Accord.

The repercussions of Britain putting itself above the democratic rule of law will be fatal to our economy and our national interests as a whole. 

We have aligned ourselves with nations like China, Russia and Iran - ‘rogue states’ that are similarly contemptuous of law and international treaties. 

This Bill means we can never claim the moral high ground, for now we are one of them. 

Former Tory leader and prominent Brexiter Michael Howard was one of many making this argument.

It is not just our economy and future trade deals that are imperilled, it is the fact that we have lost trust around the world. 

Our reputation has been trashed. Who would do business with someone whose word is worthless and whose signature isn’t worth the paper it’s written on? 

Of course we will trade, but will it ever be in good faith again? 

Will we be able to demand advantageous terms as an honourable partner?  I think not.  We have forfeited those rights and privileges in the cause of Brexit, and we must accept the consequences. 

However, as a patriotic Remainer, I will not break the law for Brexit (which seems to be the only way of ‘getting it done’). 

So I now make this clear to Mr Malthouse. 

As my MP, your support of this unlawful bill, in my name, makes me complicit in the criminal act of breaking an international treaty. I do not give you permission to do this. 

I will not be made your accomplice, and I wish this to be made public.

If an MP is guilty of breaking the law or supporting an act that breaks the law, conscience should dictate they go back to their constituents and ask for a vote of confidence. 

Seeing that support for a hard Brexit with no deal is the preferred option for many local Brexit zealots, I’m sure Mr Malthouse will win the day.

But some of us at least, might like a vote on whether we wish to be represented by law breakers.

Jennifer Godschall Johnson, address supplied. 

Two sides to politics

Politics and politicians have received a bad press in recent years. Yet political leadership is a key element in ensuring that our liberal democracy works for the benefit of all of us as both individuals and communities. The success of our democracy depends on civic duty, and having an informed and engaged electorate. Effective leadership depends on bargaining in good faith which is crucial to a well-functioning democracy, and good manners in political debate. Talking to each other prevents voters losing faith in the democratic process and helps us to see political opponents as adversaries and not enemies that should be fought to the death.

The art of politics is having the sense of things possible. Extremists condemnation of all compromise is short-sighted because politics involves difficult choices from a menu of lousy options. President Kennedy pointed out that there were two sides to every serious political problem, and that we must resist the ideologues on the left and the right that demand stark and simple solutions, that do not exist. Somebody invariably has to make decisions and take responsibility for them. The best you can hope for is to do the best that you can do and be right more often than the other person. This demands a degree of humility not often found. People who think that it is simple and the answers are obvious are dangerous. To succeed we need a strong streak of realism and need to see politics as a noble calling to create a more just and liberal society.

Too often politicians want to be liked and to be liked is to get along. The way to get along is to go along. This is not good for serving our residents. Compromise over issues may be acceptable as a legitimate way of resolving conflicts, but not so principles. As citizens, we should demand better from our politics and politicians. If they are not up to scratch, the solution is to get rid of them, but beware of the snake oil salesmen amongst them.

Luigi Gregori, Charlton Road, Andover.

Outrage interest

It is interesting to read of the various degrees of outrage expressed at the Prime Ministers proposed bill to modify certain provisions of the EU withdrawal agreement.

It is said by such notable authorities on international jurisprudence as Tony Blair and John Major that the UK in proposing to change an established international agreement is thus, ‘breaking the law’ and will suffer a consequential loss of our standing throughout the world.

The phrase breaking the law is itself highly emotive and requires definition. If I drive my car at thirty five miles an hour in a built up area I am breaking the law. If I were to murder my wife I am breaking the law. A rather different circumstance which emphasises the difference between common law, inviolate, and statute law which is subject to interpretation. In fact the EU withdrawal agreement badly drafted, is itself contradictory in interpretation

Clause 38 (3) clearly states:“Nothing in this act derogates from the sovereignty of the Parliament of the UK.”

This clause is, as it stands, quite clear in its intent which would for example prevent the external application of a customs border between Northern Ireland and the other nations of the UK which would be a clear breach of sovereignty.

On the other hand in the House of Commons library website it states , in relation to the clause on parliamentary sovereignty that: “It is of doubtful legal significance. It is difficult to see that it has any practical effect in in terms of diminishing the actual terms of the obligations of the withdrawal agreement.

None of this would much matter if there was a clear understanding of good intent between the parties. That situation has long changed, not least when the EU withdrew its previous offer of a free trade agreement modelled on that already agreed with Canada.

Under these circumstances, and the fact that the original agreement is self contradictory, is a justifiable basis for unilateral action as an alternative to accepting our future status as an economic and political dependency of the EU .

We should now surely support our prime minister as he endeavours to complete our separation from the EU in compliance with the twice clearly expressed instruction from the British people.

Robert Hickman CBE, Micheldever Road, Andover.

A new season

Autumn the season, here in the UK, is how the northern hemisphere brings in autumn from September to November before our winter.

The word autumn comes from a Latin origin autumnus. Our autumn brings in delightful leaves falling in many colours of bronzed brown, subtle gold, dark red, auburn, slightly orange and dim yellows. I read that vibrant displays of autumn leaves are evident when a dry summer is followed by a dry autumn even better with sunshine to reflect.

In the USA, autumn is termed a ‘fall’. My childhood memories do bring back the delight of walking and playing games with the fallen leaves gently rustling and fluttering as we tossed them high or built mounds to jump in and disappear under.

Our walks need to continue despite the virus, so I hope our Autumnal walks do bring in such pleasure. Our nature again is bringing in changes, hopefully more gatherings and opportunities to meet up, view, photograph and write about.

Will our diets change? More hot food, homemade soups, roasts, custard, rice pudding a pleasure to cook and share. Pumpkins will also beckon in autumn.

But we still have to think about the virus, it has not gone from our lives yet. Folk over the age of 65 are more vulnerable with respiratory illness, which the colder weather can affect. And will we still be wearing masks? I wonder how a mask affects those with respiratory problems, I believe you can apply to not use them to avoid worsening chest conditions? I also see flu jabs are being booked already.

Autumn is followed with Halloween, bonfire night and can I say winter’s Christmas? Times which bring in group gatherings, of families and friends. Children and all love and enjoy of course, will that be the same this year? If outside with lots of space, and distances it seems perhaps possible through our autumn. I certainly recall bonfire night in my childhood, shared in our village with many who can keep a distance. Halloween, well that stays a secret till the time.

Strange really I feel, we wonder if winter could stop the virus with coldness and frosts as natural heat can increase health conditions usually. Yet I have read up on NHS links we need to remain cautious with the virus still. Groups I usually attend are still distant yet we can share so much with our writing and photography. A simple reflection, thoughts, memories and pictures can be shared widely for all to enjoy or judge. I can see the Andover Advertiser autumn month, photo competition beckoning.

I will certainly be looking for autumnal trees to photograph. Again I believe nature has taken control of all I feel and others I hear, at this time in our lives.

Linda Price, Fyfield.