Sir, The case of the impending extradition to the United States of three British citizens without the need to present proper evidence (Business Editor’s Commentary, Feb 22) is not just a manifestation of servility by the British Government towards America, and other European countries where similar arrangements hold. It is also a dereliction of duty by a Government which owes protection to the citizens who voted it into office, and therefore evidence of the contempt in which the Government holds citizens. It is a worrying sign of the movement of the country to an authoritarian state.

Britain’s moral authority to encourage other countries to value their own citizens more is diminished when it devalues its own in this way. Such devaluing of citizens is contemptuous of democracy itself. This contempt can be seen in the attempt to introduce dictatorship by stealth in the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill (Comment, Feb 21; letters, 23). Our MPs are sleeping on the job when they fail to vigorously protest such measures, and doing their constituents a grave disservice.

MILAND JOSHI
Birmingham

Sir, The Legislative Reform Bill would authorise ministers to make subsidiary legislation on matters which until now would have been done mostly by primary legislation, which is drafted by parliamentary counsel. They are the acknowledged experts in the field. In contrast, most subordinate legislation is drafted by in-house ministry lawyers, as I once was. The drafting of subordinate legislation to reform primary legislation may therefore be done best by parliamentary counsel.

ANTHONY AUST
London W6

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