Houses of Parliament

• I AM, and not for the first time, responding to a letter from Mark Newberry, (A challenge to the Lib Dem leader, August 9).

When MPs take up their seats they swear the following oath: “I… swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.”

Mr Newberry claims that the position of “remain” MPs involves “…subordinating that oath and the primacy of parliament itself to the influence and control of a politically-driven entity, based beyond these shores, that assumes supervision over the laws, customs, trade and borders of this historic realm”.

Could Mr Newberry let us know what legislation has been enacted by the United Kingdom parliament or by the European Union (of which we have been a leading member for over 40 years) that subordinates this oath? Facts, not fiction please Mr Newberry!

Mr Newberry has written many times stating that the UK is being “run from elsewhere”, some dark secret place (Brussels) run by foreigners is his gist. But he forgets that the UK has Euro MPs, is on the Council of Ministers, and our borders are supervised by the UK parliament.

Indeed many of those horrid European laws were promoted by the UK, especially the single market, probably Margaret Thatcher’s greatest achievement. Do pop round for a cup of English tea, or foreign coffee, Mr Newberry!

DAVID BIEDA
W1