Paul Mason’s assessment of The Apprentice’s appalling management style is spot-on (G2, 12 October). Any sensible manager would encourage senior staff to watch The Great British Bake Off, where Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood run a seminar on human relations every night. Even when a cake is a complete disaster they find some point to praise and provide clear and positive support. It’s the complete opposite of The Apprentice and a management model that will deliver great results.
David Kennedy
Menston, West Yorkshire
• David Cameron is supposed to have admired Nadiya Hussain (All rise for Nadiya, G2, 13 October) because she was “cool under pressure”. The animated, funny, emotional and endearing person I saw on TV was anything but. Perhaps his PR people (the same ones who suggested Benny Hill and the Smiths for Desert Island Discs) told him she was “cool” and he misunderstood. Again.
Ruth Eversley
Paulton, Somerset
• Already reeling at the news that Ireland will face Argentina without injured Paul O’Connell and suspended Sean O’Brien, I was stunned to discover that now the great Johnny Sexton has been kidnapped – or “suffered an abductor problem” as your report delicately puts it (Ireland avoid All Blacks but concern over O’Connell shows cost, Sport, 12 October).
Paul Dennehy
London
• A fine article on Hong Kong (Hong Kong post’s colonial days are over, G2, 12 October) and especially the trams. But don’t be fooled. The “antique” trams 28 and 128 were built in 1986 and 1987 respectively to look antique. You can’t judge a book by its cover.
Robert Bracegirdle
Rothley, Leicestershire
• As the symbols of empire are expunged elsewhere in the world, we may take comfort from the apparently permanent presence of the union jack in the state flag of Hawaii.
John Walsh
Swindon, Wiltshire
