Is Mr Cartlidge, MP for the South Suffolk Constituency , a reasonable, honourable and courageous Member of Parliament?

Letter published in the Suffolk Free Press a couple of weeks ago:

Dear Editor

In the face of Johnson’s unconstitutional suspension of Parliament at a time of national crisis how can we evaluate the response of our local MP, Mr Cartlidge?  How reasonable, honourable and courageous is his stance?

1.  Is he a reasonable man?  Synonyms: sensible, rational, open to reason, full of common sense, logical, fair, fair-minded, just, equitable, decent.  On the basis of his recent ‘round robin’ letter to concerned constituents we must answer YES.  All his letters show he is a sensitive and communicative man who can certainly be classed as a “good local MP”.  He has approached the arguments with regard to prorogation in a balanced way weighing up the pros and cons very ably.  However, his conclusion is faulty.  He fails to acknowledge the constitutional reality that a referendum can only be consultative with parliament delegating to itself how the result should be put into effect.  That the PM’s actions are constitutionally outrageous are beyond doubt.

2.  Is he an honourable man?  Synonyms: honest, moral, ethical, principled, right-minded, full of integrity. The answer must be YES but with reservations.  Since the “expenses scandal”, the provocateurs concentrated in the rabid right-wing press that makes up over 85% of our national newspapers, have labelled MPs as corrupt, entitled people who should be paid as little as possible.  Now, with the Brexit crisis they have had a field day in bullying MPs who are faced with an impossible job.  It needs to be stressed that MPs are not delegates but representatives bring their own informed opinions to the debate.  Mr Cartlidge’s problem is that, like all the Suffolk MPs he started off supporting staying in the EU with all its massive benefits, to a position today where he appears to be entertaining the possibility of a no-deal scenario with unknown consequences on our jobs and living standards.

3.  Is he a courageous man?  Synonyms: brave, fearless, valiant, intrepid, heroic.  The answer must be NO.  Has he like his colleagues, Hancock, Rudd and Javid, been more interested in furthering his own political career?  Is he really going to support the irresponsible chancers that make up the Johnson cabinet?  A courageous man would resign or, at least, vote against this closing of Parliament.  To give him some credit, Mr Cartlidge has many reservations about prorogation but despite his call for compromise, it should not be done by trashing our Parliamentary democracy.  After all it was the Leavers who have made great noise about returning sovereignty to Parliament and now they want to send it packing.

There is no doubt in my mind, that the 2016 Referendum was all about the survival of the Tory Party above all else.  In concluding his ‘round robin’ letter, our MP says that we need to “move on as a nation” and that “we must hold our nerve as a nation”.  When you replace the word “nation” with “Tory Party”, I think we are getting nearer to the truth.