Sir: How right Mr Anthony Lewis is (8 March). The
licence we give our legislators in the euphe- mistic name of 'the sovereignty of Parliament' was once npon a time exercised subject to cer- tain restraints—certain principles, preserved no doubt by a conservative element in both Houses of Parliament and in the civil service.
It is shocking but not very surprising that, regardless of merit, these principles have dis-
appeared from the political sphere, but more surprising that the civil service is not more of a restraint than it has appeared to be, though possibly that is an unfair criticism of a con- scientious body of people. Anyway, can our legislators be very much worse than we who elect them? I fear Mr Lewis's suggestion of a written constitution comes too late. We have gone too far to take kindly to the idea of curb- ing the constitutional rights we enjoy through our elected representatives, such as the right to legislate against minorities and to expropriate individuals.
David Pyott Haffenden Quarter House, Smarden, Kent
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