If you want the country to be more democratic – join a political party

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Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party (PA)

The EU has been described as "undemocratic" in the election of its leaders, but consider this: the next leader of this country will be chosen by a few tens of thousands of Conservative Party members who pay their annual £25 for this considerable privilege. Similarly, the leader of the Labour Party was chosen by a tiny fraction of the UK electorate, many paying a mere £3.

The remedy? If you want to have your say next time, join a party – preferably one whose aims you believe in – and buy yourself an upgrade to Democracy Plus class. A price worth paying perhaps?

As for the EU leaders? They were elected by Europe's national leaders (Tusk) or by the elected MEPs, in the case of Juncker and Schulz.

Duncan Kelly
Amersham

The return of the Cold War

Now that Nato is bulking up its forces on Russia's borders, and the British Defence Secretary talks of "deterring Russian aggression" can I be the first to coin the phrase "Cold War II" to describe the period into which we are entering?

Colin Burke
Manchester

I joined Labour to get rid of Corbyn

I read your report on the surge of new members to the Labour Party and your suggestion that the increase in members shows the massive support for Jeremy Corbyn among the “grass roots”. I joined the Labour Party last week – for the first time – for two reasons.

First, I felt guilty I hadn’t been more involved in the Remain campaign and had moaned about the Leave campaigners but hadn’t done anything about it. Second, I wanted a vote so that I could vote out Jeremy Corbyn.

Kevin Johnson
Clitheroe

We need a change from the old order

Brexit supporters have unwittingly shaken up the old order – or so it seems. If that is genuinely the case, we have an unexpected chance to show the world a new kind of politics, based on a female model of co-operation instead of endlessly repeating the public school/white male establishment one of aggressive competition within and between nations.

It is a lost opportunity if Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom fail to come up with something new and exciting between them in this time of national turmoil. They don’t even have to break new ground. That was done by Nobel Prize winners Mairead Maguire and Betty Williams in Ireland – over 40 years ago now.

Jane Sherwood
Taunton

Women do not play minor roles in warzones

I found it rather tasteless that a BBC report on TV yesterday referred to women as having had "only" auxiliary or medical roles in the Armed Forces and particularly in Afghanistan. It was in relation to Cameron's new initiative to have them more on the "front line".

Nurses have been killed in Afghanistan so it is not "only" a minor role to have.

T Maunder
Kirkstall

Donald's next declaration?

After the Dallas shootings, will Donald Trump now call for all US army veterans to be banned from the country?

David J Williams
Colwyn Bay

Leadsom should be ashamed

It was cruel of Andrea Leadsom to highlight the fact that she has children and Theresa May does not and make this an issue in the Conservative leadership campaign. Whatever the context, shame on her.

Julie Corbett-Bird
Address supplied

Declaration of love

When did John Rentoul first realise that he was hopelessly in love with Tony Blair?

I think we, your readers, should be told.

Bernard O'Sullivan
London, SW8