The fact that Gary Neville is offering succour to homeless men in Manchester (Report, 21 October) throws into sharp relief the attitude of another Mancunian, David Walker, the bishop of Manchester, who while campaigning for Britain to take in more refugees, has allegedly refused to open up his six-bedroom house to anyone because it is “smallish … by bishops’ standards”. Where is the moral leadership? Bishop Walker has been usurped by Neville on this front. I’m sure the bishop has preached from Luke chapter 10 on more than one occasion; I wonder, when he reflects on this parable, whether he sees himself as the Good Samaritan or the priest?
Ian Joseph
Chief executive, Trustees Unlimited
• After the index in your Journal pages (20 October) said “Polly Toynbee: George Osborne is his own worst enemy”, I thought you’d be deluged with short, clever, pithy and humorous letters recalling Ernest Bevin who, when told that Herbert Morrison was his own worst enemy, said: “Not while I’m alive he ain’t.” So I didn’t write (Letters, 20 October).
Judith Martin
Winchester, Hampshire
• The late Scottish harpsichordist Lucy Carolan once delineated to me the precise gradations of Scots hospitality (Ian Jack, 17 October; Letters, 20 October). The unannounced afternoon caller might expect variously to be told (assume appropriate accent): in Glasgow, “You’ll be having your tea”; in Edinburgh, “You’ll have had your tea”; in Aberdeen, “Come on in: we have numerous comestibles, at vairy reasonable praices”.
Richard Abram
Wanstead Park, Essex
• Ta ta, steel (1,700 jobs at risk as steel crisis hits Caparo, 20 October) – is this nominative determinism?
Fr Julian Dunn
Great Haseley, Oxfordshire
• Xi who must be obeyed, evidently (Drummers silenced as protesters on both sides wait for Xi, 20 October).
David Arscott
South Chailey, East Sussex
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