As with so many pieces about levels of inequality (“If all the economic figures are so good, why do we feel so bad?”, Comment), Torsten Bell concentrates too much on income levels.
The modern-day measuring of those in work (as opposed to those on the register looking for it) is a recent Tory ploy to distort the historical picture. Before Mrs Thatcher, many middle-class couples existed on one income, the women not working or only going back when their children were older, while many working-class women put in five half-days a week. Rents were controlled, public transport was cheap and plentiful and work was more secure, with the employer shouldering more of the national insurance costs.
Margaret Thatcher hit us with the perfect storm and there wasn’t a minimum wage until 1997, after several years of Thatcher and Nigel Lawson’s housing policies had made it necessary. It’s gone up most years since then, struggling vainly to keep up with house price-generated inflation.
David Redshaw
Gravesend, Kent
Ditch diesel; go electric
London mayor, Sadiq Khan, should set an example on reducing pollution (Special Report) by instructing Transport for London to transfer spare electric trains from its Shenfield service to its newly electrified Barking-Gospel Oak route when they become available this summer, instead of its current plan to continue operating the route with diesel trains until its new electric trains are delivered in 2018.
Graham Larkbey
Chair, Barking-Gospel Oak Rail User Group
London E17
Maligning Melania
I read Sonia Sodha (“Feminists should face their own flaws”, Comment) with great interest and not a little empathy. I agree it is insulting to Melania Trump to insert a narrative that is disingenuous and self-serving. Women do need to watch this avid denouncing of other women who seemingly do not fit into their way of thinking or acting.
As the writer points out, there are more meaningful ways to further the roles of women. Why should we take a patronising view of this woman? Mrs Trump appears unassuming, does not like the limelight and she should not be undermined. Michelle Obama was the epitome of an excellent first lady and would denounce this discrimination as cruel and unnecessary.
Judith A Daniels
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Harman failed to make a stand
Admirable in many ways, but as befuddled as Corbyn himself on the Brexit referendum vote, but, unlike him, Harriet Harman (New Review) has always toed the party line. She is clear about whom she represents – her constituents – yet even as she reviles what he stands for and knows he is hopeless, she will obey his three-line whip, thereby aiding and abetting Corbyn and May in delivering the UK into the very sort of chaos sought by Trump, which could well lead to circumstances not matched since the 1930s. This is utter folly.
Carolyn Kirton
Aberdeen
Sisters oust the men
Wow, what an exciting weekend for Venus and Serena, as they have usurped male football from pages 10 and 11 in the Observer Sports section. So this week, only 10 of the total 20 sports pages are for that one sport. (Of course, page 19 has to have the male soccer football results as well.)
There was even more excitement last week, as a tiny notice about a forthcoming international netball tournament appeared on the back page.
Ann Anderson
London N8
Too little, too late
While Toby Helm’s article on Corbyn (News) and the Labour party soap opera provides insight into how we’ve ended up in the current swamp, it highlights something more important. Many in the political community still don’t get that this battle was lost way before 23 June 2016, and Britain is damaged for decades to come. Now they have passion? Now they can fight?
If the Labour party had put real energy into promoting Remain and shown leadership to a nervous and confused country, we might have been able to turn this tanker around. It’s on the rocks now and the opposition are just oil-slicked seagulls squawking and flapping uselessly.
Amanda Baker
Edinburgh
Presidential punishment
President Trump appears to be bringing about HL Mencken’s definition that “democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard”.
Graham Griffiths
Meifod
Powys
Watch what you’re saying
Language matters still, so to that end, please stop using the word “Eurosceptic” when the more accurate term would be “Europhobe”. Actually, I’d prefer the accuracy of “Eurocynic” – a sceptic doubts, but can be persuaded – but this, I suspect, would be a neologism too far.
Nick Pattinson
Stockport
