Letters: In praise of the post office

Reeves’s road sense

Sir: Is it stubbornness, denial, inexperience or some other agenda that prevents Rachel Reeves changing course in the face of uncomfortable facts? A multitude of surveys have told her that punitively taxing the rich means they will leave (‘The great escape’, 17 May). Recently I had lunch at a fashionable London club that was half-empty. When asked why this was, our waiter commented that he now rarely sees his previous international regulars, and if he does, they are only in town for a short stay. Endless business surveys have also told Reeves that her employer taxes will cost jobs, close companies, weaken growth and raise inflation, yet she has continued with these too, despite evidence that those fears are now coming to pass as these taxes bite. When her excuses run out and it is clear that her policies caused the slow-moving car crash that will be our economy, historians will no doubt find answers to the question above. For now, many remain bemused, not so much by the errors of judgment as by the fact that, despite clear warnings of hazards, she has not swerved to avoid them.

Andrew Haynes

London SW6

Caring students

Sir: Re. John Power’s article ‘Mind the gap’ (17 May), it seems to me that oversubscribed university courses could be linked with care work. A year’s exemplary care-work experience could up someone’s chances of being accepted for such places. Thin sandwich courses could provide six months’ paid care work, with reduced fees on four-year degrees. I think many English students would be willing care workers for an interim period. The training needed for many such roles is not long.