In response to Deborah Orr’s question on Black Friday (29 November) – how about, instead of displaying “unhinged hysteria” at our local electrical retailer and the like, next year we all quietly visit a local charity shop, donate one item each and purchase one item each?
John Shields
Huddersfield
• I cannot believe that large companies in our retail sector (Report, 1 December) are still not paying the living wage. It is about time this iniquitous situation was advertised on the television instead of their bloated and self-indulgent Christmas spectaculars. Retail workers work long at this time of the year, and they should be remunerated accordingly. We should banish forever the ghost of Christmas past.
Judith Daniels
Great Yarmouth
• Oil prices are now 40% lower than a few months ago, when the SNP was insisting North Sea revenue would bankroll independence. Why is the SNP silent on this matter now?
Chris Hardy
London
• If Stephen Linstead (Letters, 28 November) is so keen on English more closely representing “the spoken sound” why doesn’t he spell his name Steven Linsted?
Don Oldham
Budleigh Salterton, Devon
• Something can happen 24/7 or even 24/7/52 (Letters, 1 December). If it’s happening 24/7/365, it must be on another planet...
Jack Schofield
Cheam, Surrey
• I don’t fancy Emily Thornberry’s chances of getting her washing machine fixed when it goes wrong.
Peter Franklin
Epping, Essex
• Margaret Drabble (Letters, 1 December), please come back to Labour. Where would you go?
Tony Heyes
Crowthorne, Berkshire
