Letters - 29 September 2023
From Anti-Boycott Bill to Trans children
Anti-Boycott Bill
Thank you for highlighting the Anti-Boycott Bill to us in the 15 September edition of the Friend.
It is something, I agree, that we should be very worried about.
Taking away the local voice and choices of local government and other public bodies is, I think, undemocratic.
Can I suggest that Local Meetings and Area Meetings across the country put this on their agendas?
As Quaker groups we could contact local representatives and ask what help we can be.
I hope these bodies will be complaining but maybe they can do that before they are asked to do so?
Barbara Mark
Peace and disarmament
As a Quaker, I was disturbed that Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has chosen to abolish the post of shadow minister for Peace and Disarmament, which at present has been held by Fabian Hamilton MP.
It seems to me that this post should be supported.
Surely, in a party that aspires to government, we need a dedicated voice for peace and disarmament?
We need a government which focuses on our obligations under international law and existing United Nations treaties, for example, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which the UK is a signatory, where the nuclear armed states agreed to ‘pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament’.
Rae Street
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