Letters | 12 March 2011

Funny idea of fairness

Sir: Congratulations to Ed Howker and The Spectator (‘The alternative story’, 26 February) for lifting the lid on the Electoral Reform Society, an organisation that appears to thrive from a conflict of interests. It was our misfortune to encounter the ERS during a controversial campaign at the Royal Geographical Society in 2009, when the organisation was supposed to ensure fair conduct ahead of and during a special general meeting called to discuss the future of exploration. The RGS decided to include comments from the then president, Sir Gordon Conway, telling fellows how to vote on the back of the ballot paper. As Stanley Johnson reported in the Sunday Telegraph at the time, ‘even in Zimbabwe you don’t expect to find suggestions as to how to vote printed on the ballot paper’. Our legal counsel advised that this was ‘deeply unfair to the democratic process within the RGS’. When we raised this flagrant abuse of the democratic system with the ERS, its response was to close ranks and whitewash. It is disgraceful that the ERS is now looking forward to making considerably more money from its £1 million investment in the Yes to Fairer Votes campaign.

Justin Marozzi
The Beagle Campaign, Norfolk



They don’t give a damn


Sir: Dan Jones thinks we Americans have fallen for Britain again (‘Enduring love’, 5 March). For some Americans — like me, I guess — Britain possesses a certain historical charm that our country lacks. This in part explains the glossy interest in the royal wedding on our side of the pond. But the truth is that the vast majority of yanks don’t care a damn about Britain or the Brits. A more obvious national obsession is the British one of endlessly debating how much the US worships the UK. What does that say about you?

Natalie Kitchin
New York



Fostering intolerance


Sir: I was delighted to read your editorial (5 March) in defence of the Christian couple Eunice and Owen Johns.