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Rolling the red carpet out for a bully like Trump is an insult to the honour of the D-Day veterans

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Thursday 06 June 2019 15:19 BST
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Trump’s UK visit: Following the protests for three days

Given the importance of the “khaki vote” in the Labour landslide of 1945, it seems reasonable to assume that most of the D-Day heroes would have been left-of-centre politically. How would they feel to see their sacrifice dishonoured by the red carpet being rolled out for a lying, cowardly fascist bully like Trump?

Mike Wright
Nuneaton

Proroguing parliament to force no deal or a second referendum: what’s more democratic?

How can it be undemocratic to ask voters, both Leavers and Remainers, what they now think about Brexit, now the implications are so much clearer, just as is done in similar polls in other countries like Ireland, Denmark and frequently in that bastion of referenda, Switzerland?

And how is it more democratic to shut down parliament, as suggested by Dominic Raab?

G Forward
Stirling

Brexit bloodletting

Some while back, after being fed a few pieces of possibly dubious advice, I decided that I would drain all the blood from my body and make a clean start. I’ve now been implementing this process gradually over a period of many months.

It’s true, my outer extremities have begun to rot and decay and it has been commented by many that I’m no longer the imposing figure that I once was (“maybe time to consider a change of mind?”), but I look at it like this: the decision was made and I haven’t yet seen how things will turn out once I’ve been completely exsanguinated.

Yeah, I reckon I definitely ought to see this all the way through before I even contemplate revising my decision.

Julian Self
Wolverton

Proroguing has precedent

It was reported yesterday that Dominic Raab, in his campaign to become leader of the Conservative Party, has indicated he would be prepared to prorogue parliament – the purpose being to prevent a vote against a no-deal Brexit.

After Charles I did this in 1629, and during the subsequent decade that parliament did not sit, the king had no clear means of raising taxation, and had to use devious methods to obtain minimal funds to carry on government. Later, the 1689 Bill of Rights forbade the raising of taxation without representation.

So if the Queen was persuaded by Raab to grant a prorogation, what would there be to stop anyone withholding their taxes with impunity?

If anyone thinks this hypothetical, I seem to recall that in the late 1970s the Australian government did find itself almost in the position of having to stand down some of its military because its parliament would not pass the Finance Act. And it was only last year that the US federal government was unable to pay many of its staff when Congress refused them the necessary supply. So the situation of a modern government not being able to raise taxation would not be unprecedented.

Chris Sexton
Crowthorne

One Trump pony

Am I correct in thinking that Donald Trump possesses one – blue – suit?

I would have thought that the wardrobe budget of the president of the United States would extend to at least several different coloured suits.

Liam Power
Dundalk

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