IT’S A basic principle of democracy that governments should be able to make decisions in the interests of the people who elected them.

But the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) being negotiated between the US and the EU puts this principle under serious threat.

This trade deal aims to set up a secretive “court” in which multinational companies can sue governments if they think a law might harm their profits. For example, a tobacco company is using a similar court to the Australian government for billions of pounds because Australia introduced plain packaging for cigarettes.

It’s also suing Uruguay for simply putting a health warning on cigarette packets there. We need the UK government to be able make laws to protect human rights, the environment and our health, which is why I’m supporting the World Development Movement’s campaign to stop the deal.

This really is a very serious issue, which could potentially alter our lives and our rights. People should be informed via the media, so they can make informed decisions.

Clare Alderson, Carleton Street, York.