Sir: Your cartoonist misinterprets Mr Powell. As he says in
his review: "Every item of de Gaulle's life as a statesman . . . is totally untranslatable into the terms of British politics." What could be clearer than that? There are people in Britain who dream of Mr Powell assuming the role of a British de Gaulle; there are others who suppose this to be Mr Powell's own ambition; but it is a scheme which suits neither Britain nor Mr Powell.
Britain is a parliamentary democracy and the present weakening of our parliament necessarily weakens democracy. The paradox of de Gaulle to British eyes is that he strengthened French democracy by weakening Parliament. That cannot happen here. Neither referendum nor elected autocracy are appropriate solutions in Britain. We need to revive the quality and prestige of the political life that centres on Parliament.
Parliament should on the whole be a place where people say what they think and vote for what they believe in. Mr Powell has set an example. It may not have done him very much good, but it has been of great benefit to the minds and consciences of Britain.
Michael Munford Coed-y-Gaer, Llansilin, Oswestry, Salop
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