Scandal at the Co-op
Sir: Martin Vander Weyer makes a good point. The Revd Paul Flowers may be a flawed individual, but he is not responsible for Co-op Bank’s woes (Any Other Business, 23 November). His appointment might be symptomatic of a complacency about ‘good’ and ‘bad’ banking that suited certain politicians, but surely now we need a full inquiry into the Lloyds takeover of HBOS and the Co-op takeover of Britannia. I would also like to see the terms compared to the Santander acquisition of Bradford & Bingley. The true scandal is the collusion of politicians, regulators and senior bankers. In the meantime, I hope Paul Flowers gets the help he needs.
Andrew Bristow
London SE11
Sir: One point to be said in favour of the ‘Crystal Methodist’ Paul Flowers: he has made cocaine and crystal meth look naff to anyone under (and probably over) 50. Expect usage to plummet.
Peter Allmark
Sheffield
We don’t do God
Sir: It is mistaken to assume that the great majority of Tory voters are Anglicans (‘Beyond belief’, 23 November). Many lifelong supporters of the party, myself included, have never subscribed to the God hypothesis, let alone devoted any part of our lives to prayer. One of the attractions of Mrs Thatcher as party leader was her refreshingly secular approach to government. Many Conservatives long to see complete separation of church and state, while contriving to lead a reasonably moral existence.
Basil Purdue (Dr)
Iwerne Minster, Dorset
Power to the people
Sir: Daniel Hannan has correctly identified the problem with our sovereign Parliament being able largely to overlook our Bill of Rights (‘How we invented freedom’, 23 November). However his suggested solution, of strengthening Parliament, would make matters worse! Power does indeed reside in Parliament, having taken it from the monarch, but the solution is now to pass power to the people by recognising them as sovereign. This transfer of power, in line with the American Constitution, should then be endorsed in a new codified constitution. This would make our politicians our servants instead of our masters. The time has come to give power to the people. I doubt we would do any worse than our political elite!
Niall Warry
Westcombe, Somerset
Agree to disagree
Sir: What a strange version of ‘thinking for yourself’ James Delingpole wants to instil in the pupils of Radley College: one where they invariably agree with him (23 November). If Radley really want a mentor for their pupils, surely they should not pick someone who asserts that in any group of inquiring and perceptive young people, those who reach different conclusions on political and moral questions must have been indoctrinated. Isn’t that exactly how those closed-minded bien pensants think?
Helen Jackson
Saffron Walden, Essex
Wheels within wheels
Sir: Hugo Rifkind, in last week’s article about the recent spate of tragic deaths in the capital, says that lorry drivers may drive with irresponsible abandon. Whether or not they are driving with irresponsible abandon is a matter to be determined in due course by the criminal courts. However, lorry drivers take additional theory and practical tests and since 2009 have been required, subject to a few exceptions, to do an additional 35 hours periodic training. As of September next year, any lorry driver who has not completed the additional training will not be able to drive. How much mandatory training does a cyclist need before setting out on the public highway?
Christabel Hallas
Skipton
Let victims speak
Sir: Any of my initial reservations about the value of victim impact statements in court quickly evaporated after reading Carol Sarler’s critique of the proposal (‘Victims’ justice’, 16 November). Her position could be summarised by saying that ‘law should be left to the lawyers’. Victims should be seen and heard under strict legal supervision as they risk jeopardising our cherished legal impartiality. It sounds as if Ms Sarler feels that British law is in the safe hands of the current legal establishment. This is the same establishment that has contrived to allow a situation where repeat murderers are unable to receive a real ‘life sentence’ and now have the right to have a parole review. If the victims spoke, perhaps more judges and prosecutors would be more vocal in criticising a policy that forbids the issuance of a whole life tariff.
Charles Jenkins
High Wycombe
Conquering hero
Sir: In his review of Rogerson’s Book of Numbers (Books, 16 November), John Gimlette gives only half credit to Don Giovanni’s sexual conquests. He says there were 1,003, but fails to tell us that included only his exploits in Spain. According to Leporello, Don Giovanni’s servant, the total was 2,065, including conquests in Italy, Germany, France and Turkey. He never made it to England or the United States.
Norman S. Poser
Brooklyn, New York
To see you nice
Sir: In his entertaining article on rhetoric (‘Save the soundbite!’, 23 November) Mark Forsyth alludes to his namesake Frederick Forsyth but neglects his other namesake Bruce Forsyth, begetter of one of our most comforting examples of chiasmus. ‘Nice to see you…’
Ian Payn
London SW6
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