In Scotland a 16-year-old does NOT need parental consent to marry (Letters, 27 May) so Angus Robertson is absolutely correct in asserting that 16- and 17-year-olds should be able to vote. Perhaps David Cameron has more to fear if the youth of the rest of the United Kingdom became as engaged with politics as the youth of Scotland.
Dr Kenneth Macaulay
Dunfermline, Fife
• We read that a “traumatised and mentally ill” young woman, who was put through the ordeal of a retrial for the murder of a man with a history of domestic violence, even though her original conviction had been quashed by the Court of Appeal, has been acquitted (Report, 22 May). This comes within a month of the news of a decision not to prosecute Lord Janner on child sex allegations, ostensibly because it would not be in the public interest to do so as he is said to be suffering from dementia, a decision now under review. The common factor between the two? The decision in each of these cases was made by Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions. Is it time to review her role?
Benedict Birnberg
London
• Foreign correspondent Louis Heren said “When a politician tells you something in confidence, always ask yourself ‘Why is this lying bastard lying to me?’”. Seems like advice we should all be following (Opinion, 27 May).
Steve Sheppardson
Bromley, Kent
• “Isis triumphs prompt war of words among allies” (26 May) refers to warnings that Isis may “execute hundreds of hostages captured in the latest battles”. Execution, however repellent, indicates some sort of judicial process and finding of guilt or blame. No such process has, as far as we are aware, taken place. These killings are extra-judicial; Isis is murdering people.
Margaret Carey
Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex
• Stuart Heritage (G2, 26 May) calls for a Brexit from Eurovision for reasons including, “aside from Austria and Germany, every other performer got more points than us”. What about France? You didn’t even notice we also got more points than the bloody French. Surely that’s what Eurovision is all about.
Brian Highley
Woodbury, Devon
