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Democracy in action

Tony Mayer’s arguments are typical of those used by fanatical Europhiles who are attempting to discredit the 2016 EU referendum result “Brexiters do not speak for the whole country” (SA October 5).

His claim that Brexiters are ignorant of the principles of a representative democracy and that members of parliament are not mandated to do what constituents want is absolute nonsense.

David Cameron’s government was voted into office in 2015 with a promise that it would give the people a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. Once the government implemented this promise it returned the decision making ability on EU membership to the people. The referendum was an exercise in direct democracy with a binary option to remain in or to leave the EU. It was made clear that the referendum result would be fully respected and implemented. The 2017 general election returned to parliament 85 per cent of MPs who stood on manifestos to deliver Brexit. These MPs then voted to trigger article 50.

Mr Mayer claims that during the referendum only 37 per cent of the electorate voted Leave. By using this argument he implies that every election which takes place in this country should be considered to be void.

Perhaps Mr Mayer could tell us what percentage of the electorate voted for him, in his Ward, when he was elected to be a borough councillor. Based on the average voting level in local elections my guess would be that he received about 12 percent of the total electorates votes. So using his own argument, was that a democratic result?

He claims that Scotland and Northern Ireland voted Remain but fails to mention that the vote was taken as a United Kingdom and not as devolved parliaments.

He uses the same old argument that the referendum was advisory. Technically it was a poll but in principle it wasn’t. The electorate was told that this would be a once in a lifetime decision which would be fully implemented.

Mr Mayer concludes by saying, “We should all be putting the national interest first, based on the best evidence available”. I agree with this statement. It is essential for our democracy that the 2016 referendum result is respected. Once we have left Mr Mayer will then have the democratic right to campaign for us to re-join the EU.

Mr K Kane, Wharf Road, Wroughton

Women let down

Two women took the Department for Work & Pensions to court, arguing that raising their pension age unlawfully discriminated against them on the grounds of age and sex, and that they were not given adequate notice of the changes. The women lost. There were gasps in the courtroom as the judges announced their ruling.

The irony of all this, or should I say hypocrisy?

In 2012 High Court judges threatened mass resignation unless exempted from tighter controls on their...you got it, pensions.

Most senior judges were highly-paid lawyers at the bar and built up substantial personal pension funds in addition to their judical pensions. Locally the High Courts have let down 9,000 Swindon women with its decision.

How can such senior figures command respect?

Jeff Adams, Bloomsbury, Swindon

Wrong direction

I was amazed at Dr Martin Parson’s letter which claimed that unknown persons came up to him whilst he wandered unattended through Devizes and told him “Let’s get on with it and end Brexit now”! How do they recognise this man?

He goes on to blame every other party for the problems we now face instead of looking at the ERG, which has blocked movement since this advisory referendum was first called. Thank heavens that some sensible members of the Conservative party realise that the far right has captured its soul and they are fighting back.

I and others would love to meet him on his lonely rambles and point him in the right direction.

Roger Day, Wedhampton

Homeless shame

So while those in Westminster continue to pull themselves apart, a report out last week said homeless deaths rose by 22 per cent last year – the biggest increase since records began. An estimated 726 people died on the streets in England and Wales in the above mentioned year, so while they all shout abuse at each other in Westminster, more people are expected to die on the streets this than last, shame on politicians of all colours on those numbers

Mark Webb, Old Town, Swindon