Your report that populist governments reduce inequality (8 March) seems to depend less on populism than on the political colour of the government. According to the data, six of the eight countries classified as “populist” or “very populist” that reduced inequality had governments classified as left, two were neutral and none were on the right. Among the others – all classified as “non-populist” or “somewhat populist” – only those with governments on the right failed to reduce inequality more often than they increased it. Predictably, political colour trumps populism.
Professor Richard Wilkinson and Professor Kate Pickett
University of York
• Exactly 20 days before Britain’s scheduled departure from the EU, the Saturday Travel special is Europe’s 50 best beaches? Truly a twist of the knife.
Susan Furmage
Mickle Trafford, Cheshire
• Luskentyre beach on the Isle of Harris has frequently been named one of the best in the UK. Not only is it missing from your list, but the whole of Scotland has been erased. Do you know something that we don’t?
[See footnote]
Helen Wilde
Bristol
• It was ironic that on International Women’s Day, your article ranking Merchant Ivory films (G2, 8 March) did not mention Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s crucial role in the success of many of them.
Roger Downie
Glasgow
• In our County Kerry council house, we called the lav “backstage” (Letters, 9 March). My late father practised his accordion playing there. Great for the echo. Standing room only.
Bob Corkey
Tralee, Co Kerry, Ireland
• This footnote was added on 11 March 2019 because a letter above claimed the whole of Scotland was erased from a Travel section feature on Europe’s 50 best beaches (9 March). In fact a Scottish beach was featured: Seacliff in East Lothian.
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