Headlines from Monday’s paper (17 July): “Overpaid public sector” (p24); “Restrict rises in living wage, bosses urge” (p22); “Shareholders receive a £33bn dividend bonanza” (p20); “Even in Sweden, the rich keep getting richer” (p17); “Presidential proposals will widen America’s wealth gap” (p17); “Chancellor urges restraint on public sector pay” (p4); “Schools are ‘forced to beg parents for money to stay afloat’” (p4). Apparently, we’re all (still) in it together.
Adrian Stenton
Saffron Walden, Essex
• Naming children after Labour politicians is nothing new (How many kids are really named after Corbyn, G2, 17 July). Following Victor Grayson’s sensational byelection victory in Colne Valley on 18 July 1907, hundreds were given his name, the most famous being a later general secretary of the TUC, Victor Grayson Hardie Feather.
David Clark
Labour, House of Lords
• Like Nicola Davis (G2, 18 July), I am attempting to go plastic-free and finding it impossible or a full-time job. We should all write to supermarkets etc and at least get them only to use recyclable or biodegradable plastic. My bin is full of non-biodegradable and non-recyclable plastic. It’s inexcusable.
Lorrie Marchington
Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire
• Re Vanessa Rickett’s litter-gathering dog (Letters, 17 July): my Carmarthen terrier, Sbwriel, not only picks up items of litter and drops them into plastic bags but then consigns them to the appropriate recycling box – but only if the box is labelled in Welsh. Isn’t canine bilingualism wonderful.
Colin Shone
Menai Bridge, Anglesey
• During their courting days, my parents frequented a Tyneside pub where the landlord had taught his pet Alsatian to open bottles of brown ale with its teeth, much to the admiration of customers. Not a feat which would meet with universal approval today, one suspects.
Paul Veitch
Newcastle upon Tyne
• I write in support of Steven Burkeman (Letters, 18 July) about clues to Codeword puzzles. I hope this correspondence will be limited to two letters.
Helen Bardsley
Manchester
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