In response to John Maguire’s letter in the Watford Observer of October 16 criticising my sources in relating them to 1899 and 1907, my reference was the Oxford Dictionary of Law, 1997, and, in particular its reference to the international law commission set up in 1947 by the United Nations Charter. Moreover The Hague Convention was also re-ratified by the United Nations under the ‘jus gentium’ or law of nations.

As to law breaking, I challenge Mr Maguire to name a country that has broken fewer laws than the UK. To jog his memory I’d remind him of the UKs refusal to allow convicts to vote in contravention of the European Court of Justice ruling, many of whose judges are from former communist states who were forced to toe the communist party line.

Finally Mr Maguire, there is no absolute law. To make an analogy: Newton’s law of gravity was imperfect when Einstein stated that Mercury’s orbit is influenced by the massive weight of the sun. So with law as the brave citizens of Hong Kong have challenged Chinese law so the UK challenges EU law. Thus all law is relative and not absolute. In the middle ages the Pope claimed his rulings were inviolable but Martin Luther challenged them; thus we had the Reformation which has been of immense benefit to the West. Do you not agree?

Ron Pearse

Nascot Street, Watford