Sir, – Between 1976 and the Brexit referendum in 2016, the UK had six prime ministers in 40 years. Since Brexit, it’s had six in 10 years and is now due a seventh. This feels less like the “Mother of Parliaments” and more like political speed-dating.
There’s always a temptation for a little Schadenfreude at Westminster’s expense. Yet stable UK politics are firmly in Ireland’s interests. Like it or not, Britain remains an important diplomatic, educational and economic global power whose interests are often closely aligned with our own.
In an increasingly unstable world, a stable UK voice matters. A revolving door at 10 Downing Street weakens Britain’s global standing and our collective interests. – Yours, etc,
Colm Jordan,
RM Block
Dublin 14
Sir, – The British electoral system has become increasingly ridiculous over the last few decades since the death of the two-party system with prime ministers getting whopping majorities from smaller and smaller percentages of the popular vote.
Its defenders would say, ah but at least you get strong and stable government. Well, as we approach our seventh prime minister in 10 years we can at least put that defence to bed.
Perhaps it’s time to ditch first past the post and bring PR to the House of Commons? Things might even quieten down for a while. – Yours, etc,
John Cotter,
Ferrybank,
Waterford
Sir, – Over recent years Britain has changed prime ministers at a rate similar to that with which Chelsea FC had changed managers, and neither has proved to be successful. Continuing the football analogy, should the country follow the lead of the English FA and give the job to an outsider? – Yours, etc,
Martin Conry,
Clontarf,
Dublin
Sir, – The brutal dispatch of UK prime minister Keir Starmer reminds us yet again that politics is not for the faint of heart (“Emotional Starmer bows out as Burnham takes centre stage,” June 23rd). – Yours, etc,
Patrick O’Byrne,
Phibsborough,
Dublin 7
