Stephen Hawking is right about the NHS – it is in demise

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Professor Hawking attacked the Conservatives over their handling of the NHS (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize Foundation)

Professor Stephen Hawking was spot on when he spoke out of the demise of our once great NHS. After over a decade of dealing with the Department of Health as a local health campaigner I can say without contradiction "the Department of Health don't give a damn".

Paul Broadhurst
Cheshire

There is no doubt, whatever he says, that Jeremy Hunt wants a privatised NHS. He has indicated this objective in the past.

Of course the NHS could be sold off, as other utilities were, by a share flotation but a more stealthy method would be employed. More and more services, now provided in-house, would be put out to tender (it is already happening). Provision of non-life threatening treatment, such as hip replacement, would then only be offered by private clinics and, apart from the well-heeled, only those with appropriate health insurance could avail themselves of the service.

When it comes to deciding who I trusted more in the argument between Hunt and Hawking I would certainly believe the views of one of the greatest minds of the 20th/21st century rather than someone with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Patrick Cleary
Devon

A united Ireland

I feel strongly that it must be pointed out to Mary Dejevsky that Northern Ireland, is and always will be, part of the United Kingdom.

Our families, who are staunchly loyal to Queen and Country, fought in the two world wars, as the honoured dead testify to in our cemeteries.

How dare Mary Dejevsky make such an inflammatory comment in her article, suggesting we should be set adrift from Britain, as her convenient solution to Brexit. Perhaps we should not have defended the Falklands when the Argentineans invaded?

Mr Roberts
Northern Ireland

Big Ben

So Brexit supporting Tory MPs want Big Ben to be operational to ring out the UK exit from Europe. Brexit is supposedly "led" by intellects who see that as a priority, no wonder the nation is in the state it is.

Arthur Streatfield
Bath

Surely we should have a referendum to decide whether Big Ben should chime in celebration of toll in mourning on the commencement of Brexit.

Jon Hawksley
London, EC1R