Sir, – Brexit means Brexit. What does chaotic indecision mean? – Yours, etc,
COLIN WALSH,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.
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Sir, – The bizarre carry-on in Westminster of MPs looking lost and being unable to decide on anything may be partially due to a long-established trait of human behaviour. It is not unusual for those who’ve spent years in the armed forces, religious institutions, merchant navy, large industrial enterprises, family businesses, etc, to be in great difficulty managing everyday life when they voluntarily or compulsorily leave such work or social communities. They’ve spent a long time in an environment where many of their basic needs have not been a daily concern. They’ve lost the ability and skill of being able to think on their feet while viewing the bigger picture and how to respond sensibly to adversity.
The UK has been part of the EU for 45 years and the common framework of membership means that individual MPs have not needed to concern themselves daily with that framework’s workings and instead concentrate on domestic matters. The Brexit process has brought about a situation of MPs obliged to do something by themselves, with outside stabilising props no longer available. They’re now similar to the institutionalised individual – feeling a bit unsure and lost and lacking the skills to embrace the totality of the environment they now find themselves in. I would expect this situation to become much worse after the eventual Brexit when the British public begin to realise that their current MPs are neither capable nor competent enough to run a standalone UK. – Yours, etc,
DAVID REDDY,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – With the ongoing stalemate at Westminster, and assuming a conclusion is desired, would the 650 MPs of the UK House of Commons consider adopting an amended version of the papal voting method employed by cardinals in the Vatican, known as a papal conclave? This method is a very practical and democratic approach to moving from a broad to a narrow range of options when a diversity of views prevails.
First MPs would generate all possible options, theoretically 650 options, should there be no convergence on wording and should all MPs fulfil their moral duty to participate. Then a vote on all generated options would take place with elimination of any options securing the support of less than a defined proportion of MPs, say less than 10 per cent. This step would be repeated a number of times, until an agreed threshold was reached and a final list of options that have a reasonable level of support was arrived at. Say the agreed threshold was a final list of three options. Then MPs would vote on the final list and the option securing the highest number of votes at that point would be declared the agreed UK Brexit strategy to be acted upon without further delay.
End of story and the legislators of the UK and Europe could move on and deal with the consequences of it.
This may include making advance legal provision for the licensing and import of UK- and EU-originated medical devices and supplies to and from the UK and the EU, along with other essential work that legislators across the UK and Europe should be engaged in, for the good of the people they represent.
It may even help to allow for a secure form of anonymous voting at Westminster so that MPs could vote without concern for party positions and other shallow considerations that should not compete with their heavy responsibilities in shaping the long-term direction of the UK within Europe and the world.
If it were not such a serious matter I would also suggest phased withdrawal of food and liberty to inspire a level of papal conclave momentum to the Brexit voting process at Westminster. – Yours, etc,
HELEN CAHILL,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – Words and sentences uttered by UK politicians that are guaranteed to confuse me further in the Brexit debate include: “Let me be absolutely clear ... ”; “Clearly ...”; “Let me state in the clearest possible terms...”; and “I’ve been very clear that ...”. Never have people been bombarded by so much apparent clarity, and yet both politicians and the public have never been so unclear about any issue. – Yours, etc,
PAVEL MARIANSKI,
Dungarvan,
Co Waterford.