I agree with David Konyot’s objections to the use of the words “circus” and “clown” to describe the behaviour of our elected representatives (Letters, 27 December). As a former amateur pantomime dame I feel that the word “pantomime” is also misused. Pantomime is hard work, amusing, entertaining and popular. Parliament appears to be none of these things.
John Seeley
Solihull
• Your wonderful obituary of Paddy Ashdown (24 December) nevertheless neglects to emphasise that he was an accomplished historian. The Cruel Victory: The French Resistance, D-Day and the Battle for the Vercors (2014) is a gripping study of a key event; translated into French, it was as acclaimed in France as in the UK.
Robert Gildea
Oxford
• Note from the newsagent attached to our Christmas Eve Guardian: “Dear Customer, We are … closed on the 25th and 26th of December. We apologise for the incontinence and we hope you have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.”
Barbara Frost
Potters Bar, Hertfordshire
• Is it altogether a bad thing if we stop spending money we don’t have on stuff we don’t need (Boxing Day sales: Disappointment for stores as visitor numbers slide, 27 December)?
Richard Wilson
Oxford
• Bethlehem is in Carmarthenshire (which also has a Hebron), so I think Wales wins this Christmas competition (Letters, 27 December).
Anne Cowper
Swansea
• Is Dunkirk in Kent part of the Brexit deal?
Helena Smith
Dorchester, Dorset
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