It was remarkable that, in the recent referendum, South Lakeland was the only one of six areas in Cumbria to vote in favour of remaining in the European Union.

South Lakeland voters once again showed a dogged determination to move in the opposite direction to almost everyone else, much in the same way that gave them one of only eight Liberal Democrat MPs remaining after the last general election. It is a phenomenon which appears, on the face of it, to be based on loyalty to the Liberal Democrat ethos in the area. However, does that stand up to logical analysis?

The word liberal is derived from the Latin for freedom 'liber.' Democrat is derived from the Greek words for the common people 'demos' and rule 'kratos'. The logical ethos of a Liberal Democrat, therefore, is a belief in a society where freedom and government by the people is paramount.

However, this presents an obvious paradox. The European Union takes away freedoms from its member states and is ruled by unelected commissioners. This is the exact opposite of what Liberal Democrats stand for.

It has been widely reported that Tim Farron has pledged a British return to the EU in the next general election by setting aside the referendum result. Apart from the anti-democratic nature of such a proposal, in order to deliver on this pledge he would need to achieve a miraculous landslide electoral victory.

I cannot help wondering whether it might be possible to set aside a general election result because of deep disappointment in the concept of Liberal Democracy.

Stan Harrison

Kendal