One of my former UN bosses, María Fernanda Espinosa, made a point of sending a copy of the UN charter to the permanent representative of each member state on her election as president of the UN general assembly, by way of reminding them of their binding commitments.
As she now intends to stand for election as the first female secretary general of that much-maligned organisation, perhaps it might be the time to consider doing the same again? Certainly Donald Trump, who has told us that his own personal morality and very big brain take precedence over international law, could do with a copy, as could Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu, as the latter pair continue to dodge international arrest warrants.
Perhaps she might also send a copy to our attorney general, Richard Hermer, who appears to have codified the doublespeak emanating from Keir Starmer in the wake of Trump’s very clear breach of the charter and international law in his smash-and-grab shakedown in Venezuela? Lord Hermer has invented a nostrum that Geoffrey Robertson KC would blow away in a micro-second; a new “UK right” to weigh diplomacy before “calling out” allies on international law breaches (Report, 9 January). Perhaps Lord Hermer takes us all for imbeciles.
It is 80 years this month since the first UN general assembly gathered in the Methodist Central Hall in London. Perhaps Lord Hermer could be invited to receive his copy of the UN charter from the current UN secretary general, António Guterres, at the commemoration taking place there on 17 January?
Mark Seddon
Almeley, Herefordshire
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