Why Britain is a great neighbour

TOM COOPER (Letters, January 14) outlined some peculiar reasons for opposing an expected royal visit to the Republic by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth.

He says relations are not normal or friendly. This is news to many of us who have relatives, friends, employment history, sports loyalties, property and many other interests in our neighbour. Britain also happens to be our largest market and a political companion in Europe.

Mr Cooper must agree that western monarchies are largely ceremonial and the notion that “some are born to rule while others are born to be ruled” is hardly a representation of life in Britain or Spain where politics is in charge and politicians have all sorts of antecedents. This country has no inferiority complex these days and is hardy destined to be ruled.

He decries Queen Elizabeth as an inherently sectarian monarch. I disagree. She is kindly old lady of old fashioned values like duty and family. When she travels to Commonwealth countries she is generally well received.

Mr Cooper also castigates her for being head of the Church of England and the Act of Settlement of 1701.

He should look closer to home at our undemocratic Senate — as well as judicial and a raft of other political appointments.

Most galling of all is his complaint of lack of cooperation by the British government with tribunals of inquiry. Well, Mr Cooper should look to our own house first — the glorious leaders of nationalist and republican background of which he is so proud who have used various avenues to disrupt tribunals in a way that would have made Henry VIII stare and blush.

David Cotter

Bridgetown Close

Castlemartyr

Co Cork