Dan Sabbagh reports that a former British defence attache to Moscow said he was tailed every time he left the British embassy (Why a Chinese ‘mega embassy’ is not such a worry for British spies. 18 January). A British spy in Moscow in the 1960s told me how, after offering his bus fare one morning, the driver said it had already been paid. As the driver pointed to a fellow passenger, the Briton and the Russian tasked with tailing him exchanged knowing glances.
Richard Norton-Taylor
London
• Following the letters (15 January and 18 January) in praise of Martin Kettle’s excellent political writing, I’d like to add my appreciation for his superb reviews of classical music. He shows great knowledge and insight into both areas – a real renaissance man. I hope that he will still provide the odd music review in his well-earned retirement.
Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick
St Albans
• I’d got as far as page 6 of the 20 January print edition of the Guardian and was mentally composing a letter about the appalling Trump situation – then I reached page 7, where John Crace said everything I’d planned to say. Cheers, John!
Sophie Houston
Dunoon, Argyll and Bute
• In our house we refer to the chore of changing a double duvet cover (Letters, 15 January) as “wrestling with the bear” – a term purloined from a description in the Guardian of Neil Young’s guitar soloing.
Chris Osborne
West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire
• If Robert Jenrick is “the new sheriff in town” (Report, 18 January), I wonder what that makes Nigel Farage. Deputy Dawg?
Cherry Weston
Wolverhampton
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