30 Saturday April 9 2022 | the times
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor should be sent to
[email protected] or by post to
1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GFcorruption, slinging mud while
recoiling from the insinuation that
any wrongdoing has occurred.
Mud sticks. The result may be that
this cabinet loses one of its best
brains, the man who led the world in
using the novel device of furlough to
help ordinary people ride out the
pandemic. If Mr Sunak has to step
aside because of scrutiny of his wife,
our politics will move further down
the constricting tunnel of mediocrity,
where only the bland and
demonstrably blameless dare enter.
We should concentrate more on
changing rules we don’t like, rather
than attacking individuals.
David R Smith
SouthportSir, I doubt whether Downing Street
ever had such a highly qualified and
intelligent couple. To hound them
indicates institutional racism. You
report that “experts said there were
ways for her to keep the citizenship
but end her non-dom status”.
However, India does not have dual
nationality like Pakistan and
Bangladesh. Therefore it would be
good if these experts spelt out how
this can be achieved by the manyIndians who are eligible for British
citizenship but prefer, like Akshata
Murty, to keep Indian nationality.
Sunil Kumar Pal
London NW8Sir, It is indeed unfair to criticise Mr
Sunak’s wife for taking full advantage
of the non-dom tax rules to reduce
her liability. It is, however, entirely fair
to criticise the rules that allow this, as
well as a government and chancellor
who see fit to maintain these rules
along with other tax exemptions that
benefit mainly the wealthy while
choosing to solve our fiscal shortfall
by taxing employers on the jobs they
create, and the wages of employees,
through an NI increase that leaves
interest, dividends, rent and most
pensioner incomes untouched.
Adrian Cosker
Hitchin, HertsSir, As we all grapple with our
outrage that Rishi Sunak’s wife has
avoided paying UK tax on her
overseas earnings, perhaps we should
think about the relief felt in India that
the tax is being paid there instead.
Simon Carne
London W8Notes for Sheeran
Sir, Ed Sheeran makes the case that
there are only 12 notes in a scale and
so the chance of similar musical
phrases appearing in pop music is high
(“Sheeran sounds a note of warning”,
Apr 7). With 12 notes available, a
12-note phrase has almost nine trillion
possible combinations. While not all
of these would be pleasing to the ear,
perhaps there is greater scope for
musical originality than he thinks.
Mark Jarratt
Poole, DorsetGod’s own town
Sir, In regard to Ilkley being named
the UK’s best place to live (Apr 8),
when I worked in a wine shop in
Hampshire years ago, Alan
Titchmarsh once told me that when
he returned to West Yorkshire, friends
would ask him, “Eh, Alan, what are
you still doing down south?” His
reply: “Missionary work.”
Chris Moorhouse
SouthamptonCorrections and
clarifications
6 We reported that Damilola Grace
Olakanmi died after eating a cannabis-
infused sweet (News, April 7). We now
understand she mistakenly consumed
a synthetic cannabinoid.
The Times takes
complaints
about editorial
content seriously. We are committed to
abiding by the Independent Press
Standards Organisation (“IPSO”) rules
and regulations and the Editors’ Code of
Practice that IPSO enforces.
Requests for corrections or
clarifications should be sent by email to
[email protected] or by post to
Feedback, The Times, 1 London Bridge
Street, London SE1 9GF
Energy strategy
Sir, Hydrogen will have an important
role to play in a net zero carbon UK
(“PM doubles hydrogen target in
effort to cut back on gas”, Apr 6) but
heating homes will not be one of
them. Hydrogen is wasteful in that it
takes about twice as much electricity
to produce as the energy it delivers.
Depending on how it is produced, the
“round-trip efficiency” may be 47 per
cent or even less. Thanks to the
volatility of renewables it will still be
economic to make hydrogen during
periods of peak generation, but for
energy storage, not home heating.
Tim Ambler
Senior fellow, Adam Smith Institute;
London SW1
Sir, As I sit, less than a mile from the
sea, watching the tides coming in and
going out twice a day, 365 days a year,
whatever the weather, I still find it
hard to believe we don’t make more
use of our island’s power. We have
sold wave power technology to other
countries, it is far less obtrusive than
wind farms (and probably less noisy)
and hopefully quicker to install than
new nuclear power stations. What is
not to like?
Ruth Knox
Longhoughton, Northumberland
Non-dom tax status of the chancellor’s wife
Sir, In her analysis of the non-dom
tradition, Emma Duncan makes the
unanswerable case for ending it
(“Non-doms are an elite relic of the
colonial era”, Apr 8). She presents the
familiar and beguiling economic
arguments routinely advanced in its
favour before demolishing the basis of
non-dom status comprehensively, not
only because “no other rich country
offers it”, but because as a “tax dodge... its time is up”. Quite simply, it isn’t
fair. Whether for political or
disingenuous economic reasons, this
truth has always been avoided. It
matters little whether the criticism of
Rishi Sunak’s wife emanates from the
political left or closer to home. What
is important for the integrity of our
politics, as your leading article
concludes, is the perception, especially
in the partygate climate, of one rule
for them and one for the rest of us.
John Dunston
Oxford
Sir, Labour has launched a very
British style of attack. Anyone who
has made good through talent, effort
and skill seems to be fair game when
it comes to background wealth. We
seem to be conflating wealth withSir, If Russia occupies the Donbas
and much of southern Ukraine,
having eliminated or expelled all
resistance, it will be almost impossible
to dislodge (“Send weapons now for
Donbas battle, plead Ukrainians”, Apr
8). The rest of Ukraine, and possibly
other east European countries, will
continue to live under the threat of
Russian aggression and Putin will feel
he has won, albeit at enormous cost.
The only way this outcome can be
avoided is if Ukraine wins the battles
to come and is able to drive Russia
out. However, this cannot happen
unless democratic nations overcome
their nervousness and stop trying to
make a distinction between defensive
and offensive support to Ukraine.
Either the boil is lanced now or we
will all suffer blood poisoning later.
Mike Davison
CheltenhamSir, It is rather shocking that we
appear to be offering the wheeled
Mastiff and open-top Jackal to assist
Ukraine when the Russian army’s
most potent weapon is heavy artillery
(“UK to send armoured vehicles to
aid Ukraine”, Apr 7). ShockingArming Ukraine
because we still have many of our
regiments equipped with these
vulnerable vehicles procured for the
Afghanistan operation. They would
seem entirely unsuitable for any role
in the action visible on our screens.
Lt Col (ret’d) Richard Hoare
Gillingham, DorsetSir, I was so relieved to read your
leading article (Apr 7) pressing the
need for sending arms to Ukraine. Its
people are fighting a war for everyone
who values democracy and the rule of
law. On reading the last two sentences:
“Mr Putin has been appeased for too
long. Bullies need to be confronted
until they back down,” I cried: “At last!”
Monica Collantine
Stockportfrom the times april 9, 1922SHOPPING FOR
THE EASTER
HOLIDAYS
Fair gamekeepers
Sir, It was kind of Nick Hayes to
admit that gamekeepers are not “orcs”
(“Trespass all areas! Two go wild in
the country”, Magazine, April 2). It
might be worth him bearing in mind
that the keepers he comes across as
he crosses the countryside willy nilly
are simply doing their jobs. The law
forbids trespass; not gamekeepers. But
when a rambler accidentally leavesthe gate to a deer park ajar, or a
disposable barbecue sparks a wildfire,
it’s the keeper who ends up picking up
the pieces. Gamekeepers in general
are very aware of the benefits of the
great outdoors. Talk to almost any of
our members about why they decided
to work in gamekeeping, and they
would answer that it’s because they
enjoy spending time with nature. So I
can, to a certain extent, sympathise
with Nick and Robert’s predicament. I
cannot agree, though, that trespass is
the way forward.
David Pooler
Chairman, National Gamekeepers’
Organisationthetimes.co.uk/archiveTaking offence
Sir, Local newspapers in the 1960s did
great public service by naming and
shaming (letter, Apr 7), as well as
reporting on everything from council
meetings to weddings and funerals (as
a cub reporter I recall standing in the
rain taking the names of mourners).
We also covered two magistrates’
courts, and with so many cases it was
expedient to list them under headings:
speeding, petty theft, drunkenness etc.
That didn’t always run smoothly. The
chairwoman of the local council came
in one Friday, banging her copy on the
front desk; her speeding offence had
appeared under “urinating in a public
place”, and she demanded a retraction.
Our ex-Fleet Street editor suggested it
was perhaps best not to draw attention
to it, and it was quietly forgotten.
Mark Cole
BuckinghamLetters to The Times must be exclusive
and may be edited. Please include a full
address and daytime telephone number.
This week will see much holiday
buying, mostly of small necessities
for the suitcase and trunk which can
be packed easily and will come out
unruffled and fresh from their
journey. It is a great mistake to take
dresses, hats, or wraps that will not
travel well. Special attention is being
paid at Debenham and Freebody’s,
Wigmore Street, to the needs of
those going away for Easter. Printed
shantung or woolback satin dressing
gowns that fold up in squares are 59s
6d and something that will take up
even smaller space and could, if
necessary, be carried in the pocket, isa two-colour lustrine wrap that folds
into a small wallet of the same fabric.
Hose in the new spring colours are a
holiday need, and pure silk stockings
with lisle tops and feet in a good
range of colours, black, white, tans,
browns, greys, and moles, at 12s 11d
are good value. Sporting hose for a
golfing holiday are Scotch knit in
browns and greys. Shoes for finer
weather are in two-bar suede, with
punchings, at 59s 6d; white tennis
shoes are in three different qualities
of buckskin at 39s 6d, 45s, and three
guineas. Gloves in light shades of
washing suede are most useful to
take away, as they can be easily
cleaned. These are to be had with or
without buttons at 14s 9d and 17s 9d,
and as washing directions are
supplied, a couple of pairs is ample
provision for that appearance of
good dressing which spotless gloves
give to a neat appearance. At Peter
Robinson’s, Regent Street, there are
little sets of crepe de Chine lingeriewhich fold into the smallest space for
travelling. The favourite colours are
pink and mauve, but lemon yellow is
running them very close. Jumper
pyjamas are typical novelties, one of
which, in Chinese style, has been
adapted for a recent stage success.
The Galeries Lafayette, Regent
Street, are opening their salon de the
for the first time today. Tea time is
the pleasantest interlude in a day’s
shopping. Tea is not a French habit,
yet the French atmosphere is kept
perfectly, with a colour scheme of
strawberry and green, many mirrors,
and a ceiling decorated in French-
Moorish fashion. There is an electric
cooker and the patisseries will be
quite French and delicious. Entrance
is through the shoe department,
where all the new designs in French
suedes in white and putty and beige
will tempt the guests.Calories on menus
Sir, I am 16 years old and in recovery
from anorexia nervosa. The new law
that calories will have to be on menus
(News, Apr 2), terrifies me. The
government should really be investing
more in teaching people to have a
positive relationship with food.
Calories are not something to be
feared, as the diet industry has taught
us: they are units of energy that keep
our bodies alive. Calorie counting
does more harm than good: it cruelly
changes the pleasure of eating to
tediously obsessing over a number. As
one of the 1.25 million people in the
UK who suffer from an eating
disorder, I know how one can creep
up on you. I agree that obesity is a
huge problem. However, putting a
number next to fish and chips on a
menu will not solve anything. “Low
calorie” does not equal healthier.
Teaching nutrition and how to balance
food groups would be a far more a
positive way to tackle obesity without
putting further pressure on the NHS.
Amelia Fuller
Malmesbury, WiltsEnigma memorial
Sir, Further to recent correspondence
about the role of Polish intelligence in
cracking Enigma (letter, Apr 7), may I
point out that there is a memorial
plaque to their work in Bletchley Park
and has been since 2002. The work of
the Poles has been in the public
domain since the 1980s, not long after
the Enigma secrets first came out.
Julian Tubbs
DerbySir, Every time I take friends to visit
Bletchley Park, I keep my eyes peeled
for the small monument, too small in
fact, remembering the contribution of
the Polish mathematicians involved
with Enigma and Alan Turing.
Without reducing the importance
of the work of Turing and his British
colleagues, I think he would have
been appalled to see their efforts
barely mentioned in the complex.
Paola Lamborghini
Old Stratford, Milton KeynesThirsty broadband
Sir, I refer to your article (Apr 7)
concerning a commendable proposal
to insert fibre-optic cables in water
pipes to improve broadband speeds
and reduce the disruption caused by
digging up our roads.
Where we live in the country,
however, not only is broadband
supplied at a very slow speed via
copper cable but, due to the large
number of houses being built without
any increase in the size of the mains
water pipes, we already have a
situation where the water pressure
drops at times of high demand to the
point of nearly sucking when the tap
is turned on. Further reduction of the
internal pipe size by the insertion of
cables may result in a choice between
having broadband or a water supply.
James Peto
Dovaston, Shropshire