Letters: Justin Welby fails to offer a constructive alternative to the Rwanda plan
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SIR – An estimated 1,000 migrants have crossed the Channel illegally this year alone, but once again the Archbishop of Canterbury denounces the Government’s Rwanda plan (report, January 30) without offering any viable solution to break the business model of the people-smugglers.
Little wonder the Church of England is sinking further into irrelevance. The arrival of illegal migrants – often in the areas of the country that can least afford to accommodate them – puts pressure on both local infrastructure and social cohesion.
Yet liberal bishops appear oblivious to this. It is shocking that our so-called national church has so little to say to those communities that bear the burden.
Victoria Baillon
Shepton Mallet, Somerset
SIR – When will Justin Welby learn that his priority should not be to meddle in politics, but rather to keep parish churches and vicars supported? The disgraceful closure of churches during the pandemic has not been forgotten. The Church of England can ill afford to lose more punters.
Julia Tingle
South Chailey, East Sussex
SIR – Madeline Grant (“Justin Welby’s strop on Rwanda Bill was more Grace Kelly than Your Grace”, Sketch, January 29) observes that “only the current C of E high command could turn up at a debate about the policy issue of the day, and end up making it about themselves”.
When the Blair government passed the House of Lords Act 1999, the number of hereditary peers in the Lords was slashed from about 750 to 92 (thereby removing some old buffers but also swathes of experience and expertise, not least in the fields of agriculture, the environment, defence, diplomacy, foreign affairs, energy, manufacturing, education, finance, science, medicine, local government and the media). If the Lords Spiritual had suffered the same attrition, their number would have been reduced from 26 to three.
Jonathan Baird
Member, General Synod (Laity)
Conock, Wiltshire
SIR – Madeline Grant’s observations about the contributions of the “C of E high command” in the Lords, which turned the debate about the Rwanda policy into one “about themselves”, reflect broader trends in churches.
I recently listened to a speech (I cannot call it a sermon) by an archdeacon who was rather keener to tell us about her dog and children (in that order) than she was to speak to the text of the day. I can only conclude that theological colleges no longer teach the art of giving a sermon – one which helps to increase our knowledge and sustain our faith.
When I do find clergy who provide such a thing, it is a joy.
Jane Moth
Stone, Staffordshire
Army recruitment
SIR – Increasing the size of our Army Reserve will not fix the Armed Forces’ recruitment problems (Letters, January 30).
Lord Cameron’s government cut troop numbers, believing that a larger Reserve was the solution. Reserve recruiting was prioritised over Regular Army recruitment. This is a major factor in our current deficit.
Mike Tickner
Winterbourne Earls, Wiltshire
SIR – What a shame conscription was ever abandoned (Letters, January 30). The young of today would learn a lot from just a year’s military experience, and many might want to continue.
My late husband spent a fortnight each year on exercises with the Yeomanry, sanctioned by his employer. He enjoyed the camaraderie and the exercises, and learnt a number of skills. The Government needs to encourage the young; it is an exciting life and would stand them in good stead for future employment.
Helen Spiegelberg
Midhurst, West Sussex
SIR – I was interviewed at the RAF Cranwell academy in the 1960s. The first question was: “What does your mother think about you joining the military?” When I said that she believed all young men should serve in some capacity, they were astonished.
The rest of the interview was about my mother, her background and her opinions. Finally they realised they had not asked anything about my views. After a short question about using nuclear weapons, my interview was over. I passed and was offered a place.
Paul Tyminski
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Banks’ virtue signals
SIR – It has become trendy for large organisations, including banks (Letters, January 30), to flourish their warm and fuzzy side by embracing the environmental, social and governance (ESG) approach to doing business. This apparently is good for society, employees, business and, of course, the climate. A whole industry has been created to advise and score businesses on how well they are doing.
I am lost as to how debanking customers and closing branches fits with the ESG objectives. Or have I misunderstood what “social” means?
Simon Tuck
Seer Green, Buckinghamshire
A sparky speaker
SIR – In the early 1960s I would cycle into Newcastle to spend long afternoons looking at the magnificent displays of taxidermy in the Hancock Museum. Before leaving home I would ask my parents for sixpence. This was inserted into a display of a stuffed budgerigar (Letters, January 30) called Sparky. A recording of this bird’s amazing talent for fluent speech could keep one captivated and amused.
It also had a fine collection of British birds’ eggs in their original nests.
David Bryson
Hexham, Northumberland
SIR – My grandparents had a parrot that used to sit on the piano in their flat and sing “ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay” followed by “just come up”.
On one occasion an uninvited guest did just that and burgled their apartment. The parrot didn’t even have the decency to sound the alarm.
Judith Barnes
St Ives, Huntingdonshire
SIR – My grandmother had a parrot that shrieked “it’s that dreadful woman again” every time the doorbell rang.
Alex Kimbell
Brixton, Devon
Hamas and the ICJ
SIR – The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel must not only avoid committing genocide, but also demonstrate that it is complying with this ruling, as well as preventing and punishing incitement to genocide (report, January 27).
Surely the ruling should apply to all, not just Israel. Hamas must therefore rescind its aim – which has been clearly stated – to repeat its atrocities of October 7 and destroy Israel.
The ruling should also mean that those demonstrating in Britain’s towns and cities every weekend must stop displaying their banners calling for jihad and chanting “from the river to the sea”, which is a call for the destruction of Israel and the killing of Israelis. “Prevent and punish” must mean that the police stop such acts and the courts punish them.
If the ruling doesn’t apply in this way, then it would surely show that the ICJ counts for nothing.
Philip Lloyd
Yarm, North Yorkshire
SIR – I take issue with your endorsement of the Government’s continuing support for the Israeli regime (Leading Article, January 27).
Of course, the terrorist attack of October 7 should be condemned. It is also the case, however, that not everybody who expresses dismay that Israel has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians – according to the Hamas-run health ministry – in the name of self-defence is automatically an anti-Semite.
Can we not think of the plight of the ordinary people of Gaza?
John Walker
Burgh Heath, Surrey
Serve and folly
SIR – In 1989 my late husband was president of the Lawn Tennis Association, and one evening, during our annual visit to Roland-Garros, we were entertained with others at La Tour d’Argent (report, January 29) by Philippe Chatrier, the then president of the International Tennis Federation.
We were served the signature helping of duck. I still have my certificate. My husband, however, hated duck and never ate it – so he asked for steak instead.
There was a moment of silence, and the look on Mr Chatrier’s face was thunderous. Always the perfect host, though, he gave a nod to the maître d’ and the offending item was ordered, but we were all well into the puddings before it arrived.
To add insult to injury, my husband had asked for it to be bien cuit.
Frances Presley
Dorking, Surrey
Scaling the summit of shaving technique
SIR – I have always shaved using feel (Letters, January 29) and memory. I never use a mirror and prefer to shave when lying in a scalding hot bath. I even manage to keep my tash neat and trim.
I’ve shaved in the snowy mountains on my many expeditions, but have never used shaving foam or a stick in my life. Instead, I have always opted for Cussons’s Imperial Leather soap, bars of which are becoming increasingly hard to find.
Ray Bather
Allendale, Northumberland
SIR – Am I alone in shaving with one hand behind my back? It has become a habit, as I’m often holding a cloth to wipe away the post-shower steam and want to keep it dry.
I am, however, fast-approaching middle age and, given Neil Sewell-Rutter’s cautionary wisdom (Letters, January 29), may have to change my technique.
Jonathan Ricks
Southampton, Hampshire
SIR – Tim Pope (Letters, January 27) is not alone in shaving with his eyes shut. I always wet shave in the shower, with the spray on my back. This means that I stay warm and can rinse my razor by just holding it behind me.
Andrew Chantrill
St Mawes, Cornwall
Banning smoking is a betrayal of Tory values
SIR – I have never smoked in my life, nor have I any wish to.
However, I am incensed by the Prime Minister’s proposed ban (report, January 30), which to me goes against all the freedoms that the Conservative Party stands for – or should be standing for.
I do hope that this move will be quashed rapidly, as it is totally undemocratic and at odds with the basic principles of Rishi Sunak’s own party.
Hilda Gaddum
Sutton, Cheshire
SIR – The steps being taken by the Government to protect children from the dangers of vaping (report, January 30) are most important.
Vaping is already known to cause damage to both the lungs and the heart. Vaping in early years could well blight a child’s health and physical ability, as well as leading to the major worry – addiction.
While the long-term effects of vaping are not yet fully known, the scientific evidence suggests that preventing uptake among children is vital.
Paul French
Andover, Hampshire
SIR – Vaping is bad: it’s that simple. But it’s also very profitable and, as cigarette smoking rates decline, it is the new version appealing to younger users.
The situation is the same here in Australia, where there are attempts to ban it – although the illegal markets will make this move difficult, not least because some young people already appear to be dependent on it.
A ban is a good start, but it must be backed up by massive fines, confiscation and medical support. Parents must not shirk their responsibilities, either.
Dennis Fitzgerald
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
SIR – I remember when playground “clackers” were banned in 1985, within months of becoming popular.
Why has it taken so long to ban disposable vapes?
Dr Peter Merry
Norwich
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