Letter: I have just read in a national newspaper that 22 MPs have signed a petition, saying that they no longer wish to pledge allegiance to the Queen.

Apparently it’s an affront to them and it breaches their human rights.

They have stated they would rather pledge their allegiance to their constituents and the nation.

I must have missed something this last 20 plus years since I started voting.

I don’t ever recall my local MP voting the way I would like them to. They follow their party line and vote in accordance with their own party’s best interests.

This petition is just another way of trying to change this country into a republic. Still I suppose if we gave them an allowance to swear their allegiance, things might be different. We all know how much an MP loves to claim expenses.

When I served in the RAF I swore my allegiance to Queen and country when I joined up, and was very proud to do so.

Now I work in the civil service and see myself as working for Queen and country.

I am very proud to be English/British. Our monarchy is envied around the world. She really is treated like a Queen when she visits abroad, but in her own country we seem to have stopped appreciating the jewel we have and become complacent about having the royals around.

We need to stop these MPs now. This Government has already sold our stocks of gold off for a pittance. Don’t let them sell off the crown jewels as well.

Nigel Stallard, Market Drayton