Major achievements
Sir: I enjoyed and applauded Matthew Parris’s piece (Another voice, 26 May). It is indeed time that Sir John Major’s legacy was recognised and that he be remembered for those two acts that will leave what I hope will be an indelible mark on our daily life. Having been involved with cultural institutions that have been wholly renewed with Lottery money, I can only hope that its introduction will be remembered as his great contribution to this country. Let us fervently hope that this administration’s raid for the Olympics is resisted with maximum force by the current trustees to allow it to continue its remarkable work.
Also let us remember his keeping sterling out of the eurozone by negotiating our opt-out of monetary union. Please may Gordon Brown keep us tightly opted out too.
Rupert Hambro
London SW1
Too many laws
Sir: It’s all very well Boris Johnson writing about the new Puritans (‘The purpose of life is happiness’, 26 May). Perhaps he and his
colleagues could start opposing some of the puritanical/authoritarian legislation that spews forth from New Labour. New Dave seems to agree with half of it and doesn’t put up much of a fight against the other half.
Simon Wood
By email
Sir: Boris Johnson is right. The Conservatives’ basic policy should be not to pass laws but to repeal them. I would scrap almost all of Blair’s laws, most of Major’s, some of Thatcher’s, some from before her time, all laws subordinating Britain to the EU and all EU regulations imposed on us against our will. If the result of this was a less healthy, less safe, society — oh dear, how sad. I favour more laws to keep out immigrants and protect animals.
Mark Taha
London SE26
Vaccination risks
Sir: Doctors Elliman, Bedford and Hamilton (Letters, 26 May) dismiss Prof.
Magazine articles are subscriber-only. Get your first 3 months for just $5.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY- Free delivery of the magazine
- Unlimited website and app access
- Subscriber-only newsletters
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in