Readers' letters - May 16

The idea on the part of the Government to try and introduce voter ID prior to voting in elections will disenfranchise many people, especially poorer communities.

The pilot schemes used in some areas during the recent local elections has been nothing but a shambles.

There were cases of people being denied a vote when they turned up, on the basis they did not have the correct ID, and it was apparent that some people were unable to access the required voter ID for a variety of reasons.

The forms of ID required were inconsistent across the different trial areas, consequently causing confusion among voters.

The Equality and Human Rights commission and a number of charities warned that these trials would have a disproportionate impact on BME communities, older, young, trans, disabled and poorer people.

If introduced in Lancashire, it is clear that this scheme would impact on many people in the poorer areas because there are many who will not have access to a passport or driving licence.

It is hoped the Government will not take this idea any further because it is an attack on vulnerable people, as well as an infringement on Human Rights.

I would urge the minister responsible for this scheme to publicly state that this scheme was morally wrong and to apologise to the voters who were denied a vote in the recent elections.

Coun David Whitaker

Labour

Harbour Ward, Morecambe

politics

Wrong to call for abolition

Both R N Coupe and columnist Chris Moncrieff suggest the abolition of the House of Lords, as they have revised legislation to give the House of Commons the right to vote on Brexit details (LP Letters, May 5 and Moncrieff, May 8).

Both are either totally ignorant of parliamentary procedures or just trying to turn us against our parliamentary democracy.

The House of Lords is a revising chamber, which means they can’t enact legislation.

Only the elected House of Commons have this power.

Our Government introduced proposed legislation which would give the Cabinet the power to amend Brexit legislation without reference to Parliament.

This would give the Government’s Cabinet the so-called Henry VIII powers.

The House of Lords proposed amendments will, if agreed by the Commons, force the Government to go back to the Commons before agreeing any ‘deals’ with the European Union post Brexit.

Surely this is exactly what the House of Lords is all about?

I do wish we educated the public, especially our young people, on how our democracy works.

Kevan Benfold

Liberal Democrat

conflict

‘Israel’s a lawless state’

PM Theresa May’s official spokesman played Little Sir Echo to Washington in declaring “We condemn Iran’s attack on Israel, Israel should defend itself”.

The PM’s office appears ignorant of geography since no missiles landed within Israel’s borders.

They were directed against Israeli bases on occupied Syrian land.

Israel claims, as in the case of East Jerusalem, to have annexed Syria’s Golan Heights, but neither annexation is legal under international law, although this presents no problem to Donald Trump nor the British Government.

Israel says it makes clear it will not allow Syrian territory to be used by Iran’s Guards to train or arm Lebanese resistance groups or various pro-Assad groups.

Once again, Israel has no right under international law to tell a neighbouring state which forces it can approach to defend itself against concerted outside efforts to over throw its government.

Israel is a lawless state, armed to the teeth.

The danger is that those ordered to bow the knee will instead seek new means to retaliate, raising the threshold of horror and suffering to an unimagined level for everyone.

Royston Jones

Address supplied

sport

Canaries’ loss

– our gain

I, for one, am pleased PNE are having another season in the Championship.

If the playing staff, in the main, are left alone, but with a couple of additions, I think we will surprise again.

But we do need better numbers through the turnstiles. The manager (Alex Neil, pictured) is doing it his way and seems suited to the job.

Our gain is the ‘Canaries’ loss’ to my mind.

We had two spells during this season of having many injuries to defenders.

It cost us dear, along with quite a few non-winning home games.

So it’s fingers crossed that next season we will attract more support from the Preston public.

Brian Lockley

Fulwood