It pains me to have to say that Paul Keetch is absolutely right in his attack on Jesse Norman for his refusal to tell us his mind on the most important political issue of our time for our country and its future - the decision to leave the EU, or to remain. You reported that Mr. Norman told the Hereford Times that ' I am not being paid to exercise my vote on this'. That is a very curious statement from an MP who receives a very substantial salary and expenses to carry out his public duties.

Edmund Burke, Mr. Norman's great political hero, stated clearly the overriding duty of an M.P. in these words, "your representative owes you, not his industry only ,but his judgement".

It is interesting that on another very contentious matter of great social significance, the Same-Sex Marriage Bill, Mr. Norman abstained from voting at an early reading and at the final vote absented himself from the House altogether. Who is he fearful of offending - his Leader or those who elected him ?

Desmond Keohane

Shucknall