Polly Toynbee’s article (The Tories knew there would be an NHS winter crisis but did nothing, theguardian.com, 3 January) notes that Jeremy Hunt “sent out a civil servant, Prof Keith Willett, director of acute care [to be interviewed on the radio], because he couldn’t be asked the crucial political question”. Is “couldn’t be asked” another of the Guardian’s famous spelling mistakes?
Alan Gavurin
London
• It’s good to discover we share people’s childish pleasures (Letters, 4 January). We clear up after our dog using a piece of Guardian broadsheet, instead of a plastic poo-bag. It’s surprisingly effective, better for the environment and rubs the faces of the worst people in the world right in it. I notice a former Trump aide on the front page of today’s paper. Looking forward to tomorrow’s walk. Bigly.
Sue Western
Bristol
• Like many of your readers, I too am looking forward to the new tabloid format – it will make my subversive activity more effective. The Daily Mail always takes centre stage on newsagents’ stands, and I like to cover the top of the pile with a copy of the Guardian.
Cathleen Palmer
St Albans, Hertfordshire
• Andrew Dean (Letters, 4 January) notes the preference of robins for dry shelter, including empty garages. When a robin nested in our garage, we obligingly parked the car in the road so the fledglings could be raised in peace. The car was broken into and the cat ate the robins.
Jan Hopkins
Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
• I believe there stands the Admirals Hard in Plymouth (Letters, 4 January).
Ken Aplin
Ampthill, Bedfordshire
• The council has stopped replacing the street sign for Back Passage in the City of London.
John Whitehead
London
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
