Moaning minnie MPs
Sir: I was recently quoted in the Sun newspaper in a story about how MPs were reacting to the Brexit drama in the House of Commons. I said: ‘It feels like the Commons is having a collective breakdown — a cross between Lord of the Flies and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. People are behaving in ways that were unimaginable even just a year ago, whether they be Remainers, Leavers or in-betweens. The Brexit madness has affected us all.’
Following Melissa Kite’s article in last week’s Spectator berating MPs for being such wastrels and using my quote as an example of ‘wimpishness’ personified, I learn we are all moaning minnies and should just get on with the job of delivering Brexit (‘Uncool Britannnia’, 13 April).
I feel suitably admonished, and realise that in some ways Ms Kite has a strong point. Rather than quoting Lord of the Flies or One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, when asked in future by journalists about the political temperature in Parliament, I shall only say ‘I am Spartacus’.
Robert Halfon MP
House of Commons, London SW1
Far from the buffers
Sir: Liz Truss is right to evaluate major investment projects as the government conducts its spending review later this year (‘The bodycon Tory’, 13 April).
However, concerns she may have about HS2 can be allayed. Spend on the project will be about £10 billion over the three-year period, out of some £2,500 billion of public spending projected in that time. Its economic benefits will far outweigh the cost, with more than £90 billion in GDP growth generated across the country. It also significantly increases capacity on the ‘classic’ rail network, particularly the West Coast and East Coast Main Line routes.
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