Sir

I agree with Catherine Bearder MEP that the Lib Dems have done much to promote civil liberties by objecting to Control Orders and various snoopers charters.

We have a  paradoxical dilemma of  upholding civil liberties while protecting  our national security.

Control orders were introduced to protect the public from known terrorists who were made subject of a curfew known as  a control order.

Control Orders have now been abolished.

The known terrorist  and radical cleric Abu Qatada abused the Human Rghts Act to avoid being deported to face charges of bombings in his home country.

He used the ECHR to avoid being deported  to Jordan in a lengthy legal battle at a huge cost to the taxpayer.

This lengthy  court case persuaded our Home Secretary,Theresa May,   to promise a reform of the Human Rights Act so it could no longer be abused by terrorists such as Abu Qatada.

The idea is to protect our national security rather than to deprive individuals of their basic  human rights.

It is question of semantics.

There is undoubtedly a fine balance to protect the innocent individual`s freedoms while at the same time protecting us all from a terrorist atrocity.

There are now more cctv cameras in the UK than any other country and this could be construed as  an invasion of  most law abiding citizens` privacy.

Not long ago I read in the Oxford Mail, that a spy plane was being used by Oxford City Council and some civil liberty groups may feel this contravenes personal freedoms.

It is a contentious issue with pros and cons for both sides of the dilemma of protecting our security versus civil liberty.

SUSAN THOMAS

Sir

it is becoming increasingly rare to find a politician who has  sincere convictions.

Most politicians appear desperate to curry favour with the electorate and change their  fickle opinions according to which way the wind blows.

Therefore when  a  conviction politician comes along things are bound to get lively.

It is hardly surprising then that Jeremy Corbyn has stirred up a hornets nest.
  He is that rare   phenomenon namely a conviction politician as was  my ancestor the  political firebrand, David Lloyd- George.
Lloyd-George was  firm in  his convictions  and this  strategic wizard felt that oppositional political  strategy was the only way to success..
  Now we have Jeremy Corbyn who has  strong convictions and this plainly comes across when he speaks.
Whether his convictions are good for the country or not, people sense that he is sincere.

This is in stark contrast to the likes of Ed Miliband who employed an expensive American spin doctor,  namely David Axelrod.
Axelrod  never even set foot in this country during the election campaign and  he did not have a clue about the germane political issues.

Had Miliband possessed his own  inner convictions he would not have needed to waste £300,000 of Labour donours` money.

So now Jeremy Corbyn has set the cat among the pigeons and the Labour Party is in disarray.

They need to ask themselves an intelligent question.

Do voters wish for an oppositional Party or a pale watered down  imitation of the Party in power?

SUSAN THOMAS