Sir, I was surprised to learn that the investigation into whether or not there had been a Christmas party at 10 Downing Street is to be carried out by the cabinet secretary instead of a senior judge (“Tories held raucous second party”, news, and “Party Line”, leading article, Dec 9). The fact is that the cabinet secretary spends a great deal of his time at No 10 in the course of his work. He also knows most of the people working at No 10. As a result, and, despite Simon Case’s undoubted reputation, he was not the right person for this inquiry, as he will, for obvious reasons, be seen as hopelessly conflicted and compromised and unable to offer an independent, credible account of what happened.
Stephen Porter
London NW6
Sir, The prime minister’s decision to ask the cabinet secretary to carry out a thorough investigation into “partygate” is welcome, albeit belated. However, I hope the inquiry’s remit will also cover the issue of which official or officials provided the “assurances” to the prime minister that no party took place and that all relevant rules were followed. Such an investigation may well throw some light on the dysfunctional way in which No 10 appears to operate.
In my doctoral thesis I concluded that the Prime Minister’s Office works best when there is absolute clarity of reporting lines coupled with an authoritative central figure (be it the principal private secretary or the chief of staff) to whom the prime minister can turn. People such as Robert Armstrong (for Ted Heath) or Jonathan Powell (for Tony Blair) fulfilled that role. It is not clear if anyone now attempts to perform that role for the incumbent.
Dr Alun Evans
London E11
Sir, It is usual for prime ministers to spend the majority of their time in Downing Street, only making the occasional forays outside. Our present prime minister seems to adopt a totally opposite approach: never a day goes by without him seemingly being on the road drug-busting, hospital-visiting, or associating with Peppa Pig. It is unknown though whether the government’s decision-making would be more or less shambolic were he to spend more time in No 10.
Lord Lee of Trafford
House of Lords
Sir, The Allegra Stratton mock press conference video is an example of black humour in the face of the indefensible. What comes across is that the participants have no idea how to answer the question about whether the prime minister would condone having a Christmas party. Rather than belittling the seriousness of the situation, it is directed at — and a comment on — the prime minister’s potential response. As such it is even more damning, coming as it does from such a close political adviser.
David Essex
London SW20
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Sir, I seem to remember that in June 2016 Michael Gove said that Boris Johnson was not up to the job of being prime minister.
It seems that he was correct.
Malcolm Bermange
Radlett, Herts
Sir, I noticed the headline “The Christmas Party” on a television news bulletin yesterday. Is this the advent of a newly formed political movement?
Diana Hartley
Askrigg, N Yorks
LOSS OF INFLUENCE IN AFGHANISTAN
Sir, It was Sun Tsu who famously and rightly said in 500BC that strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory while tactics without strategy is merely the noise before defeat. We are constantly falling into the latter trap. Two examples: our knee-jerk tactical response to Omicron, in which the West should be focusing on a massive strategic vaccination assistance programme for Africa, is strategically illiterate. As is our failure to devise a strategy that regains lost western influence in Afghanistan, thereby stemming the risk of fresh terrorism and mitigating the risk of a humanitarian disaster of which we should be thoroughly ashamed.
General Lord Richards of Herstmonceux
Chief of the defence staff 2010-13
Sir, Your leading article (“Diplomatic Debacle”, Dec 8) reasonably argues that Britain’s handling of the evacuation from Afghanistan was an unforced fiasco, but the damage done by multiple failings at the Foreign Office could surely have been mitigated by starting the process earlier. France commenced its evacuation in May and completed it before the deadline; why did Britain wait until August to begin?
Peter Leigh
Poole, Dorset
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REGULATION OF AI WEAPONS
Sir, Autonomous weapon systems are not a work of science fiction from a distant dystopian future, they are an immediate cause of humanitarian, legal and ethical concern (“We can’t let robots control nuclear arsenals”, William Hague, Dec 7). We cannot accept a world where an algorithm can kill; where a machine, triggered by its environment, determines whether you live or die. For this reason we have been recommending that states adopt new legally binding rules to regulate autonomous weapons in order to preserve human control and judgment. As the custodians of international humanitarian law, this is not something we do lightly. Critically, autonomous weapons that are used to target people should be prohibited.
New technologies are almost always applied to weapons, changing how states and non-state armed groups wage war. States must develop the normative frameworks, regulations and protective measures to protect people in war. When the British government joins the search for solutions, as Lord Hague rightly recommends, it must collaborate with both technologists and humanitarians. Protecting communities affected by conflict in a world undergoing rapid technological changes requires creative thinking, new partnerships and bold leadership.
Dr Cordula Droege
Chief legal officer, International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva
DURHAM DEBATE
Sir, We should be concerned that students are entering university seemingly so ill-equipped to engage in constructive debate on contentious issues of the day (“Dinner Date”, leading article, Dec 9). Unless they have the skills, and the understanding of the importance of debate in a democratic society, they are limited to disengaging, de-platforming those of different views or, in the recent case at Durham, complaining to the university authorities. Universities are not supposed to act as mother figures protecting students from concepts that they find difficult: quite the reverse. It’s the role of universities to challenge and develop their students, and it is time to make this clear.
Dr Sue Stevens
Kingswear, Devon
PRESS AND PRIVACY
Sir, The question that surprisingly has not been asked (letters, Dec 8; leading article, Dec 6) is why the Human Rights Act applies to the press at all when human rights legislation is typically designed to limit the powers of parliamentary, governmental and public bodies, not private entities. This result was neither unintended nor unforeseen but is the inevitable outcome of the peculiar drafting of the Human Rights Act. It is, however, constitutionally problematic.
It is for parliament to legislate in respect of non-public bodies such as the press, though of course any such legislation must conform to the Human Rights Act.
It may be that the judges would have reached this point, valuing privacy over freedom of expression, even without the impetus of the act, but either way it is now for parliament to intervene.
Professor Graham Zellick QC
Temple, London EC4
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MOVE ON, MACRON
Sir, Daniel Finklestein’s comment article (Dec 8; letter, Dec 9) on President Macron’s “fury” over Brexit was very astute. General de Gaulle correctly assessed that Britain would not fit well into the common market, and recent events have proved that his assessment was correct. Macron should now follow de Gaulle’s instinct and move on. Macron appears to be highly intelligent and has a clear vision of how a federal Europe should take shape. He should focus his efforts on that rather than on a pointless feud with Britain.
Alan Gall
Aberdeen
PASSPORT TO POILÂNE
Sir, What good sense from Alistair Osborne (“Businesses take the rap for Plan B”, Dec 9). We have been largely avoiding restaurants at home but felt safe visiting restaurants in France. We would be much readier to support British restaurants if they required vaccine passports.
Anthony Halliwell
Formby, Liverpool
GOD’S LYRICIST
Sir, “Drop kick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life” is certainly a song with magnificent lyrics and fine tune, as John Nettles points out (letter, Dec 8). However the lyrics did not come from Bobby Bare, who sang the most popular version of the song (excellently) but from Paul Craft, who provided the tune as well.
Sir Tim Rice
Henley, Oxon
PEEVED WITH REEVE
Sir, A Peter Fawcett makes an amusing comment on the “ancient English office” of reeve, quoting Chaucer’s description of a man who appears busier than he really is (letter, Dec 9). But these words actually describe Chaucer’s Sergeant of Law. The Reeve is a more thoroughgoing crook, pleasing his lord “subtilly” by lending him his own possessions, cooking the books, and pulling a fast one on every auditor.
Sharon Footerman
London NW4
LOST IN THE ROUGH
Sir, How I sympathise with Elizabeth Ollier and her dislike of dinner parties and the tedious chat she is forced to endure (letters, Dec 6 & 8). Here in East Lothian, a county with more courses than is good for it, it is the game of golf that is the curse of the dining classes. In no other participation activity do people feel the need to “entertain” acquaintances with tales of their prowess or otherwise. All too often these golfing stories are a way of projecting the teller’s social standing by revealing membership of some prestigious club or other. This is especially true, in my experience, of lady golfers.
David Johnston
Athelstaneford, East Lothian
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POLITICAL ANIMAL
Sir, Your report on dogs’ ability to acquire vocabulary (Dec 8; letter, Dec 9) reminded me of my now sadly long departed corgi, Sir Humphrey, who when he was not in the front garden barking at any vehicle that broke the 30mph speed limit spent most of his time watching television. Whenever Saddam Hussein appeared he would hurl himself, snarling, at the screen.
Ronald Forrest
Wookey Hole, Somerset
STRAIGHT BAT
Sir, Years ago I was on the sixth floor of Broadcasting House, waiting for the lift. When the doors opened I went in, only to find Brian Johnston, the cricket commentator, in there (letters, Dec 7 & 9). “Ground floor?” he asked. I nodded and he pressed the button.
“This is my winter job,” he said.
Terry Wilton
Wavendon, Bucks