After letters from independent Councillor Mark Heard (June 13) and Judy Lea (June 6) it is clear something is rotten in the state of Maldon District Council.

Despite major gains by the independents in the May elections, the outnumbered Tory caucus is trying to pretend it is "business as usual".

Judy Lea draws a telling parallel with national politics, where so many feel excluded and the prevailing script is one of undemocratic entitlement.

How ironic that we now have Tory leadership candidates who are even prepared to shut down parliament in order to force Brexit through in October, whatever the consequences.

Since the referendum one man’s democracy is another man’s poison.

The inevitable result is that Westminster now spills over into local power struggles: far from being a trickle-down effect it is more like an unruly torrent. Those who set an example, however deplorable, give carte blanche to others to do the same, without care or conscience.

The true indicator of where our local politics has arrived is the likely apathy which will greet this situation.

While our beleaguered independents were elected to work for change, most of our residents will probably accept the conservative status quo.

In this age of Trump (and soon to be Johnson) all that Adrian Fluker (Maldon District Council Conservative group leader) has to do is shout loudest and that will be his main justification for leaving almost half the electorate unrepresented.

We live in an age where politics is without honour or statesmanship.

The British are now used to corruption on a grand scale.

What they should not get used to is the flagrant injustice of not having their voices heard because others believe they do not have the right.

Surely, entitlement works both ways?

Canon Dr M Graham Blyth

Heybridge