As a white man I almost got myself in trouble at work one day (White men are apparently terrified of doing the wrong thing at work. I have some advice, 26 May). “I must admit I have zero interest in women’s football,” I said after a young woman had raised the subject. Everyone looked at me for a second or two before I added: “But in my defence, I feel the same way about the men’s.” Everyone laughed and I didn’t get fired.
Chris Telford
Lancaster
• Schools have a duty to “actively promote” the British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and respect and tolerance of those of different faiths. It seems the UK government feels no compulsion to do so (Dismay as UK prepares to sign ‘values-free’ £1.6bn trade deal with Gulf states. 29 May)
Mona Sood
Southend-on-Sea
• Simon Elmes criticises the use of “unwanted Americanisms” such as “gotten” and “faucet” (Letters, 29 May). In fact both of these words are from early modern English, and are used in Shakespeare’s plays. A respectable English ancestry, I’d say.
Neil Hanson
Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire
• Given that Labour’s fall in the opinion polls is the largest for any newly elected UK government in 40 years (Report, 25 May), Keir Starmer is experiencing the swift decline of numbers as well as the decline of swift numbers (Letters, 29 May).
Elli Woollard
London
• My wife and I get to see our grownup children occasionally when they come home to see the dog (Letters, 29 May).
Gary McGregor
Garvald, East Lothian
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