By stealth the present government increased our tax burden. By stealth they have tried to steal from every Englishman (including the Cornish) their right to trial by jury.
In AD 1215, a brave band of knights forced the despot King John of England to sign the Magna Carta. It is still the basis of English Law.
Wherever the former British Empire gained sway, the same basis applied. Its integrity is proven from the mighty USA to the smallest former colony, as they retained Magna Carta, still the basis of their justice system (except Scotland).
In the year AD 2000, brave people in the battered House of Lords defeated the present hybrid government's attack upon the foundation of English Laws and Liberty. May I be allowed through your columns to thank all the Lords, and the Liberals, who defeated this government's attack, by 222 votes against the Government's vote of 126.
By apathy we allowed Heath to sign us into Europe. By greed we allowed Thatcher to sell off Britain. By courage and integrity the Lords and the Liberals saved the very cornerstone of our liberties.
We owe to the latter, to confound the politics and knavish tricks (As in our National Anthem) of those who seek to drag us down to their sewer of injustice.
Recently we have seen our justice system besmirched either by withheld evidence, or dubious evidence. Let no one belittle the English and Welsh right of trial by jury.
It rules out the midnight knock on the door, followed by a trial to suit the politics of those in power or government, no matter who they are.
MR V LESTER,
35, Wadham Road,
Liskeard.