AN open letter to Mark Harper, MP.

Like many local constituents, I've recently been on the receiving end of the Coalition for Marriage's campaign to encourage us to let our local MP know how we feel about the Government's undemocratic and uncalled for proposal for introducing same sex marriage.

How you vote on this divisive and unnecessary piece of legislation is your affair. But as an alleged representative of the Tory Party's weasel words you risk showing a shallow and reductive view of human life and inability to understand the very meaning of the word 'Conservative'.

Should we be surprised?

No, for by regularly voting for this country's ever closer union with a navel gazing and corrupt EU, you have demonstrated not just a marked reluctance to 'conserve' this country's historic independence in the interests of our children's future in the world, but a betrayal of the hopes and expectations of those still clinging to what can best be described as the Tory Party's 'wreckage of belief'.

And just because there is little hope of less betrayal from your so-called Opposition parties, don't imagine for a minute that next time round we will simply hold our nose and vote for you.

We hapless voters know (reduced as we are to shuffling Westminster's tatty pack of party political playing cards) that even Thomas Hobson's 16th century livery stables offered the kind of choice that we can only dream of.

The time will come when all true patriots will be called upon to cleanse Westminster's 21st century Augean stables. And whether or not the Thames is rerouted to ensure the job is done in a single day, you should be under no illusions that Hercules's contemporary equivalents will, as they say in the best circles, be well and truly 'up for it.'

Then, and only then, it might just be possible to respond to the question 'Is the party over?' posed in last week's Review Opinion, with joyous affirmation.

– John Muir, Newnham.