The killing of Geronimo the alpaca sums up the Tories today – harsh and refusing to listen to reason

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Geronimo the alpaca is led away by police to be killed (SWNS)

Several individuals in protective clothing and numerous police officers arrive at a farm and terrorise an animal (Geronimo the alpaca), who cries out pitifully in fear. These terrifying strangers corner him and literally drag him away to kill him. His owner is devastated.

One more innocent animal to add to the tens of thousands – mostly innocent badgers – slaughtered on the altar of bovine TB, the spread of which has been blamed on poor farming methods.

This is Britain in 2021 under the Tories. Harsh, seemingly refusing to listen to reason, apparent slaves to the ruthless farming lobby. I am beyond revolted.

Penny Little

Great Haseley, Oxfordshire

Crisis waiting to happen

I read Adam Forrest’s article about the chief executive of high street retail giant Next, Lord Wolfson, blaming the government’s “insane” immigration policy for the huge shortage of lorry drivers causing chaos in Britain’s supply chain.

This was indeed a crisis waiting to happen and like many issues at present, this government is slow to act and adjust to the new “commercial normal”. It is starting to become all apparent that shelves in our supermarkets are looking somewhat threadbare, and now on the long and tortuous road to the Christmas season, the Scrooge impact will become clear and it will be one Christmas hamper per person.

It is all well and good for the business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to bang on about relying on our domestic workforce, but this is akin to shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. This is a highly skilled and trained profession and cannot be ameliorated by Job Centre staff directing claimants to go and drive a lorry.

Yet again this government is rearing its Brexit head on the altar of Britain’s non-existent self-sufficiency. But I am sorry to tell Lord Wolfson that leaving the EU on a wing and a mendacious promise was probably always going to end like this and our malfunctioning immigration system is just the tip of the iceberg.

Judith A Daniels

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Jonah Johnson

Boris Johnson has become a Jonah since his elevation to prime minister with Britain experiencing one crisis after another – mostly of his own making.  But, reflecting on BBC’s Vigil, it could be worse. Better him in No 10 than commanding a nuclear submarine.

Roger Hinds

Surrey

Integration not segregation

I read about the progress being made in Northern Ireland with the growth of integrated schools. Meanwhile in Scotland we hear about the anti-Catholic graffiti and sectarian chanting by Rangers supporters in Glasgow. Surely it’s time we get rid of segregated schools in all parts of the UK.

It should be the job of schools, as part of the curriculum, to teach children from a young age to get on with others no matter their colour or creed.

Geoff Forward

Stirling

Silly seasons

Tom Peck suggests that this may be Dominic Raab’s last silly season in his job. However, with our present government every season is, tragically, a silly one.

Susan Alexander

Frampton Cotterell, South Gloucestershire

Morally bankrupt

What is the sense in giving booster vaccinations to over-50s? I am flabbergasted that the government has so little concern for pupils who mix with possibly hundreds of fellow pupils every day, and are possibly just as likely to have long Covid as anyone else, that it prefers to give boosters to people already vaccinated who may not meet others for days.

A morally bankrupt government strikes again.

Stephen Ryan

Draycott in the Clay