I’D be delighted to answer Mr Rickard’s question about the Conservative party’s mandate.
It may be forgotten by the Lib Dems, but an even stronger mandate to leave the EU of 52 per cent was presented by the people in 2016.
The parties seeking to act on this verdict won overwhelmingly in the EU elections earlier this year, and won overwhelmingly again under the first past the post system - itself given a mandate of 67.9 per cent in the AV referendum of 2011 - and gives the Conservative’s 80 seat majority the legitimacy to act on its pledges.
Twice now, anti-Brexit parties have had the chance to win over the public under PR and FPTP systems and each time failed.
I’ll also congratulate Chris Loder on his own mandate receiving more votes than any candidate in the history of the constituency and the highest vote share for a new candidate since Sir William Phillip Colfox (1st Baronet) in 1922.
HARRY COUTTS
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