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ALT Freedom index Sir, JD Vance’s critique of democracy in Europe in his speech to the Munich Security Conference was breathtaking in its hypocrisy (letters, Feb 17). Long-running surveys of freedom and democracy around the world put the US well below European countries. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2023 ranked the US at No 29, with 18 European countries above it. Freedom House, based in Washington and primarily funded by the US government, has conducted its annual survey of Freedom in the World for more than 50 years. Its 2024 survey gives the US a score of 83 out of 100 for the quality of its political rights, civil liberties and fairness of elections. By comparison, of the countries criticised by Vance, the UK scored 91, Germany 93 and Sweden 99. Robert Hazell Professor of government and the constitution, UCL

ALT The Constitution Unit. Improving parliamentary scrutiny of legislation. 24 February 2025, 1:00pm–2:15pm. Prof Meg Russell (Director of the Constitution Unit). Sir David Natzler (Former Clerk of the House of Commons). Dr Daniel Gover (Senior Lecturer in British Politics at Queen Mary University of London). Chair: Lisa James (Senior Research Fellow at the Constitution Unit).

ALT The Constitution Unit. Improving parliamentary scrutiny of legislation. 24 February 2025, 1:00pm–2:15pm. Prof Meg Russell (Director of the Constitution Unit). Sir David Natzler (Former Clerk of the House of Commons). Dr Daniel Gover (Senior Lecturer in British Politics at Queen Mary University of London). Chair: Lisa James (Senior Research Fellow at the Constitution Unit).

ALT The Constitution Unit. Improving parliamentary scrutiny of legislation. 24 February 2025, 1:00pm–2:15pm. Prof Meg Russell (Director of the Constitution Unit). Sir David Natzler (Former Clerk of the House of Commons). Dr Daniel Gover (Senior Lecturer in British Politics at Queen Mary University of London). Chair: Lisa James (Senior Research Fellow at the Constitution Unit).