Come on in Sir Geoffrey’s on sparkling form tonight was the famous entry for a New
“Come on in, Sir Geoffrey’s on sparkling form tonight,” was the famous entry for a New Statesman competition which asked for words to chill the heart on arrival at a party. But Sir Geoffrey, now Lord Howe, was indeed on sparkling form yesterday, suggesting that he might not vote Tory if there was much more of this Euro-sceptic nonsense. Leave aside the fact that, as a peer, he doesn’t have a vote. Once the architect of monetarism, then a dead sheep, Lord Howe has completed another metamorphosis into the sort of principled pro-European we want to support A welcome guest indeed.. Sir: In November 1982, I was threatened with the same treatment as Ms S (leading article, 19 February), because my child was in the breech position. I was so frightened I left the country in order to give birth naturally, without any drugs and without being cut open.
I had a wonderful, relatively pain-free birth and my daughter is now 14 years old and doing well. As a mental health social worker, approved by the local authority, I knew exactly what doctors could do Hence my flight.
Ms S has my fullest sympathy. Before her ordeal I am sure she was “in full possession of her senses” – by the time this saga is settled and over she may well be in need of the mental health services. Giving birth is stressful enough, but to have to contend with the full weight and wrath of the medical profession as well is enough to make any sane woman become ill. Ms S will need all the help and support we can give her.MARY JEAN BOWLESLondon SE8. Sir: Andrew Marr (“The voices that may dash all hopes of reform”, 19 February) illustrates why the debate about how we govern ourselves must not be left to politicians.
They are – understandably, under our electoral system – preoccupied during the pre-election period with the need to impress focus groups, win over floating voters, and court the media. Yet surveys such as the State of the Nation poll, carried out by ICM for the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, show that public support for democratic reform is strong.
People’s confidence in politicians has plummeted. They want to have more of a say in decisions which affect their lives – to feel that their opinions matter more often than every five years. This means a more open and accountable government, power decentralised from Westminster, and protection for our rights in law, as well as a proportional voting system.It is vital that there is an opportunity for the public to debate these issues with their politicians, and we hope that Charter 88’s Democracy Day meetings, held just before polling day, will provide this. They could also demonstrate to the Labour Party – which can seem strangely unenthusiastic about reform – that in the voters’ eyes their proposals are more than just welcome.