RBS has spent years diverting customers away from branches – it is no surprise it is chopping staff

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State-backed lender is cutting more than 600 jobs (Getty)

I read that RBS is closing 259 branches: “Since 2014 the number of customers using our branches across the UK has fallen by 40 per cent and mobile transactions have increased by 73 per cent over the same period.” The inference is that this is what customers want.

Anyone who has been into a bank branch over the past few years has seen that there will be a member of staff whose sole responsibility is to divert customers away from the counter towards either an ATM, a computer screen or, as last resort, a telephone.

It is therefore no great surprise that customers are not using the traditional routes to banking.

Howard Robbins
Norfolk

NHS was right to blacklist homeopathic ‘treatments’

In an article by your health correspondent Alex Matthews-King, Dr Helen Beaumont, president of the faculty of homeopathy, said: “NHS England’s decision [to blacklist homeopathy and herbal remedies from prescriptions] makes no clinical or economic sense. Patients currently receiving homeopathic medicine will now be prescribed more costly drugs, which is counter to NHS England’s objective of reducing prescribing costs.”

No, they won’t. By taking homeopathic treatments, they are already not taking a drug at all, so they will continue not to need one, let alone an expensive one.

Dr Jess Oldroyd MBBS MRCGP
Sunderland

Theresa May can’t control Donald Trump if she can’t control her own party

What hope is there of Theresa May “tackling the far right”, when she can’t even control the far right in her own party?

G Forward
Stirling

President Trump’s inappropriate tweet to Prime Minister May that she needs to focus more on radical Islamist terrorism shows his profound ignorance of the major role played by the US in creating and fuelling Islamist terrorism, both before and after 9/11.

Ever since Tony Blair stood “shoulder to shoulder” with George W Bush in supporting the US illegal invasion of Iraq, which resulted in the London bombings by Islamist terrorists, successive British governments have become the poodles of US foreign policy.

Britain’s support of US-led, illegal and bloody regime changes throughout the Middle East from Iraq and Syria to Libya and Yemen played a major part in the rise of Isis, in creating the European migrant crisis and in the international radicalisation of moderate Muslims.

Chris Ryecart
Austria

If Trump’s visit to the UK is not cancelled, at least the Queen should not have to host or even meet the man.

Vivienne Rendall
Northumberland

The UK is a sinking ship

Isn’t Brexit a bit like the Titanic? There are heroes, the lucky, the unlucky, and those who are hell bent on self-preservation.

Allan Ramsay
Radcliffe

Hard-border problems continue

I did seriously believe that in all probability Ms May and her inept ramshackle administration would muddle along until, say, Easter or even beyond. However, the past few days are slowly bringing me around to think that their days are numbered and that Jeremy Corbyn could possibly be feasting on Yuletide nut roast in No 10.

Every way I look at the Irish border question convinces me the problem is insoluble and now we hear mention of “beyond crazy“ defence cuts. The armed forces have already been reduced far too much and if you throw in the already undermanned police force, where on Earth has the party of “law and order” and “defence of the realm” gone?

It does appear that some sane backbenchers are at long last about to dig their heels in to stop this lamentable course of action that could prove the undoing of the Government.

Robert Boston
Kent

What compromise will the EU and the Irish government offer on a “border” between Irish and continental ports if the common travel area between the UK and Ireland comes under threat?

Blair Noonan
Dublin

The 20-year peace following the Good Friday Agreement is at risk unless the problems concerning the Northern Ireland border following Brexit are resolved. Two of the negotiators of the agreement have indicated where hope may lie. Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair’s former Chief of Staff, recalled that “constructive ambiguity” was built into the accord. Bertie Ahern, the former Taoiseach, suggests that to “throw a blind eye“ at some post-Brexit border issues would help. All sides (EU, UK, Ireland, local communities) must feel their concerns have been satisfied.

The Irish are celebrated for their genius with language: time for the wordsmiths to shine.

John Doherty
County Donegal, Ireland

With regards to MEP Charles Tannock’s suggestion of giving Northern Ireland a second referendum on Brexit at the European Parliament, wouldn’t that inflame feelings across the rest of the UK but especially Scotland? However innocent the suggestion may be, that could set a precedent for the rest of the UK to demand another vote. One that should be welcomed.

David Murphy
Address supplied