I had the great pleasure of meeting Alan Johnson last week at a literature festival. In front of a packed audience he reiterated his support for Ed Miliband and his decision not to return to frontline politics. Here is a man totally at ease in his own skin. He is authentic Labour and comes across as a thoroughly decent bloke. I asked him, when he signed my book, if a film was made of his very interesting and varied life, who would he like to play him. Quick as a flash: “George Clooney if he tidies himself up,” came the reply. Now here is a politician who doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Judith Daniels
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
• I have followed with interest the debate on overt and structural racism in football (Report, Sport, 11 November). Whereas progress has been made but far more needs to be done, I have far more concerns about racism in flat and National Hunt racing. When was the last time an Asian or African-Caribbean person was seen on a horse at a racetrack in Britain? There are no trainers, stable hands or journalists either.
Peter Thomas
Hastoe, Hertfordshire
• For the record, there are 10 districts in Greater Manchester (not nine, Letters, 12 November) including Bury, which held a referendum for an elected mayor in 2008. The idea was rejected by 5,000 votes on a turnout of 18%.
Bob Hargreaves
Summerseat, Bury
• So one of the companies aiming to buy Canary Wharf with the Qataris is called Brookfield (Report, Financial, 8 November). Is there something The Archers’ producers should be telling us?
Marian Nyman
Whitstable, Kent
• Stephen Moss’s otherwise delightful and most informative profile of Sir Nicholas Winton (G2, 10 November) failed to mention a more local tribute to the great Sir Nicholas Winton. Since September 2010, Platform 3 at Maidenhead station has been decorated with a bench that includes a bronzesculpture of Sir Nicholas reading a book containing the names of the children he saved and the trains used to evacuate them.
Quentin Falk
Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire
• Never mind sparrows – they still have Woolworths in New Zealand (Letters, 11 November)?
Henry Malt
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
