Letters: the admirable strength of Ukrainians

The bravery of Ukraine

Sir: Few articles could resonate as strongly as that of Svitlana Morenets (‘Scrambled logic’, 20 April). She brings the agony of her brave countrymen and women home to us, and the effect of dithering and equivocation by the West. As a volunteer with a refugee charity, I weekly admire the character of our Ukrainian clients, mainly older ladies who spend their time bringing us delicious homemade cakes, volunteering in charity shops and signing up to English classes at the local college.

Tom Stubbs

Surbiton, Surrey

Well out of the EU

Sir: I have huge respect for Lord Sumption as one of the few people with the courage of his convictions to oppose state and judicial overreach, both during the pandemic lockdowns and, more recently, in suggesting Britain should consider leaving the ECHR. It is all the more surprising therefore that he seems unable to see the same phenomena at play in the EU (Diary, 13 April).

The EU’s over-mighty court has systematically stripped powers from Europe’s governments and parliaments. Its regulators have turned the EU into a slow-growth corporatist paradise which this country is doing itself much economic good by leaving. And its leaders, in their fear of so-called populism, are now trying to stigmatise political debate about any of this. I urge Lord Sumption to consider the possibility that the most inspiring project in Europe today comes not from Brussels, but from those who want to roll back unaccountable centralisation, reinvigorate the continent’s nations and bring back real democratic choice to European voters.

Lord Frost

Greenwich, London

A sorry tale

Sir: I’ve spent years investigating prostitution worldwide to test the idea of it being a career choice. I’ve conducted interviews in more than 40 countries and interviewed hundreds of survivors of the sex trade, and almost all of them have told me the same story: don’t believe the ‘happy hooker’ myth, as perpetuated by Lloyd Evans (No life, 20 April).