Anthony Pick (letters 12 May) rightly highlights the significance for constitutional monarchy of the 1688-9 “Glorious Revolution”. Of equal importance is its role in the constitutional development of freedom of religion and its later spread across the world.
In England, the 1689 Toleration Act permitted worship outside the established church for the first time. Prior this, thousands of dissenters such as John Bunyan had faced imprisonment or even execution for expressing beliefs that did not conform to the politically dominant belief system of the day. While in Scotland, the accession of William and Mary drew a final line under the attempt of the Stuart kings to impose their own beliefs on the Scottish Church. This had led to the bloodiest period of religious persecution in British history, which is still known in Scotland as “the killing times”, reflecting the large numbers judicially or extra-judicially killed for their faith.
These are lessons politicians today need to remember.
 
Dr Martin Parsons
West Mersea, Essex

The EU claim the UK is breaching international law by its internal market bill clarifying that there will be no customs barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. However, International Human Rights Conventions, including Article 1 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which all EU members have signed, guarantees all countries
 “the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.”
Similarly, the United Nations has long stated that “Any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”
I drew attention to this in an article for Brexit Central at the time the Withdrawal Agreement was first proposed.
 
Dr Martin Parsons

Sir
Freedom of religion has historically been a central British value. This includes allowing people to hold public office without requiring them to subscribe to certain beliefs. The 1719 repeal of the Schism Act allowed non Anglicans to become teachers, the 1778 Catholic Relief Act allowed Catholics to join the army, the 1828 repeal of the Test and Corporations Acts and 1829 Catholic Emancipation Act allowed non Anglicans to become local councillors and MPs. This was extended to Jews by the 1858 Jewish Relief Act and Atheists by the 1888 Oaths Act. Sadly, the historic core value of religious freedom is now under attack not just from Islamists but also from a new intolerant version of Liberalism. This seeks to impose its own ethical beliefs on wider society and exclude from public participation anyone who disagrees with them – which on occasion has included those holding historic Christian beliefs. However, genuine toleration means tolerating people you disagree with, not seeking to impose your views on them. That is the only basis a free society can exist on.

​Dr Martin Parsons