Politics v morals

Published on 05/02/2013 00:00

An example may show Gary McLelland (Letters, 2 February) the sense of “moral law limiting what politicians could do”.

Isn’t the prohibition on ­torture, cruel, inhuman or ­degrading treatment or punishment “absolute and without ­exception”?

This legal obligation on ­governments isn’t based on “Christian dogma” or “divine absolution” but on respect for human dignity.

Basic “rights and freedoms” is the meaning of “moral law”, now recognised in international and national law. Arguably this is the “universal moral law”, which, while not working ­perfectly, limits what some politicians could do.

Ellis Thorpe

Old Chapel Walk

Inverurie