Labour's resignations

Sir, – If the Labour Party has done anything for us, it is to introduce Ireland to a practice common in the rest of the free…

Sir, – If the Labour Party has done anything for us, it is to introduce Ireland to a practice common in the rest of the free world but previously unknown in this jurisdiction.

What the country is learning (and learning quickly) is to expect politicians to resign on matters of principle.

If that continues, the Labour Party will have done the country a great service, though perhaps at the cost of its own demise. – Yours, etc,

IAN KAVANAGH,

Suir Road,

Kilmainham,

Dublin 8.

Sir, – What’s PD and Green all over? Labour! – Yours, etc,

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KEVIN DEVITTE,

Mill Street,

Westport,

Co Mayo.

Sir, – As a disillusioned supporter of Fine Gael, I would like to commend the three Labour TDs who have left their party, Colm Keaveney, Róisín Shortall and Willie Penrose. They have shown more integrity and honesty than all the others in the Government, and may well lose out more than financially in doing so.

I am not the only one at “ground level” who feels this way. – Yours, etc,

EM GREEN,

Ballyknocken Beg,

Rathnew,

Co Wicklow.

A chara, – The reaction of the Labour Party hierarchy to Colm Keaveney’s vote against the Budget (Breaking News, December 14th) exemplifies the reluctance of those in power to relinquish that power. The apparent disconnect of the current coalition is reminiscent of “Let them eat cake” commonly attributed to Marie-Antoinette who ended up losing her head.

Fortunately for our political masters, the use of the guillotine is now confined to regulating parliamentary debate, otherwise their policies might not dismiss the disquiet of a large sector of the populace so easily. – Is mise,

GREG SCANLON,

Ballycasey Manor,

Shannon,

Co Clare.