Theresa May and Corbyn may as well spend the rest of the year on holiday

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Theresa May and her husband Philip visit Desenzano del Garda in Italy (PA)

It is always nice to see your MP in the news. It shows that they do actually do something from time to time.

Ian Lavery has been criticising Theresa May for being on holiday for an extended period and contrasted it with Jeremy Corbyn, who has been campaigning for the next election. Holiday vs campaigning for an election that could be five years away? It seems to me that there is little to choose between them in terms of contributing to the government of the country.

Come to think about it, neither May nor Corbyn ever made much of a contribution. They devote their time to presiding over internal party squabbles.

Bernard Cudd
Address supplied

Jacob Rees-Mogg is a reactionary who must be stopped

Thank you for publishing Adam Lusher’s fascinating and frightening article on Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative party saviour or reactionary poison?)

The sub-headline comment that suggests he has the opinions of a “Colonel Blimp” is very appropriate. The original Colonel Blimps were drawn from similar stock to Rees-Mogg (arrogant, privileged, expensively educated, out of touch with common peoples’ reality and with delusions of superiority).

When Rees-Moggs’ parliamentary history is considered, it can be clearly seen that he shares these “Colonel Blimp” traits, and would, given sufficient power, ensure a return to an era of bedraggled workers waiting in line either at charitable soup kitchens, or outside places of work in the hope of obtaining a few hours of underpaid employment, whilst the only “safety net” available to the non-privileged would be that made available by charities.

It is very clear that Jacob Rees-Mogg believes the devil should be given every opportunity to “take the hind-most”. And this is a man who makes much of his Catholic faith – apparently a very different faith to the one I was born and brought up in.

Of all the likely candidates to be the next leader of the Conservative Party, even given just how appalling they all are in their own ways, Jacob Rees-Mogg is the standout candidate who must be eliminated from the running at the very earliest opportunity. If you are a resident of Rees-Moggs’ constituency of North East Somerset, might I beg you to do everything in your power to educate your neighbours, friends and colleagues in the realities and very grave dangers this man represents for ordinary people throughout the UK.

David Curran
Feltham

The UK needs to come to terms with its alcohol problem

British society has become alcohol dependent. One may cite Hogarth's Gin Lane and argue it was ever thus. But our current consumption is significantly higher than our grandparents.

Most of us don't recognise the symptoms. If you are one of those who can “take it or leave it”, then commit to leave it: forever, never drink again. Feel a pang of loss? That's dependency.

Your article on airport drinking makes the point that the Exchequer is hooked. The Government needs income from our consumption. And as our manufacturing, professional and financial services are weakened by Brexit, reliance on alcohol duty will increase. Economic dependence goes deeper: advertising, packaging, transport, retail all derive significant revenue from the demon.

All this activity would be great if the effect of increased consumption was benign. But a few pissed passengers at gate 47 just scratches the surface. From dwindling productivity to physical and mental health alcohol is creating havoc in our society.

The drinks industry and government would like us to believe it's our problem (drink responsibly). Even support groups put the blame squarely on the individual: "I'm Joe and I'm an alcoholic". Nothing could be further from the truth. Alcohol is the problem. It is an addictive substance, being poured down our throats by powerful corporations, aided and abetted by a cash-strapped government.

Mark Grey
Covent Garden

When it comes to meat and dairy, we need economic change

Yas Necati argues that we need to end the meat and dairy industry altogether (14 August). I have great sympathy for all the arguments they put forward – environmental, animal welfare, health, etc. But rational argument won't persuade people. What will change their habits is economics, and what will change the economics is technology. Just as fossil fuels are rapidly giving way to renewables, “real meat” will eventually be superseded by cultured meat whether that is manufactured from raw materials or cultured from single cells taken painlessly from small numbers of cosseted, specimen animals. It is simply a matter of time for clever people to get the technologies right, which will happen whether governments support it or not.

Patrick Cosgrove
Bucknell

The bridge London really needs

The London Garden Bridge idea should have been rejected long ago. It has been said for at least 40 years that if a bridge needs to be built London would be helped more if the North Circular Road were linked to the South Circular Road at Woolwich. This would relieve a considerable amount of traffic from areas closer to the centre of London and daily congestion and delays around the Blackwall Tunnel. When will a Mayor of London grasp this issue rather than coming up with fancy projects which are of little practical use to London road users?

J Longstaff
Buxted