IoS letters, emails and online postings (16 August 2015)

When I saw your front page last Sunday – “Corbyn: ‘I’ll bring back Clause Four’”, my heart sank, as I have been impressed with Corbyn’s policies, such as an alternative to austerity, re-nationalise the railways, or to put it another way, get a better return on our investment, Trident, and his general demeanour.

When I saw that headline, I thought that the right-wing press was right, and that he really was one of the loony left. But when I scrutinised both the front page, and pages 4-5, nowhere could I see a quote saying “I will bring back Clause Four”, only “a need to talk about what the objectives of the party are...” which may mean consideration of restoring Clause Four, but no clear undertaking to bring it back.

I Glynn

Knutsford, Cheshire

It is to be hoped that Labour supporters heed the warnings of Tony Blair before Jeremy Corbyn is allowed to land us in an abyss similar to the Seventies.

Let me remind you it was a time when high streets were awash with retail outlets, and it was difficult to find a pawn shop let alone a pay-day lender. When young people were allowed to aspire to a university education without fear of tuition fee debt. A time when it was common for young couples to set up home and start their families in their twenties, many even having the temerity to buy their own house.

Do we really want to go back to a time when our society was in the grip of a period of unprecedented economic equality and child poverty was at a historical low? Do we really want to go back to the days when the utilities merely provided energy and water for the country without being a licence to print money for their shareholders? Or a railway system existed that only took a third of today’s subsidies to run?

And hang it all are we really expected to accept the fact that productivity was higher then than now at a time when zero-hours contracts were unknown? Of course not. It runs against all the perceived wisdom of the free-market economy. It would be like saying Father Christmas does not exist!

Alan Millington

Beverley, Yorkshire

I was pleased to see the article “Namibian charcoal workers pay a high price for the cheap British barbecue” (9 August). I was, however, disappointed that the article suggested that the only assurance the public could have of ethical charcoal purchase was the FSC standard. Charcoal produced in this country is entirely ethical and sustainable but rarely carries the FSC logo. The FSC scheme’s cost is prohibitive for small UK producers. The fact that we do not register for this scheme does not in any way lessen our product.

Jim Bettle

The Dorset Charcoal Co

Hazelbury Bryan, Dorset

I will believe that women are truly influential in sport when the Great Britain football team that qualified for the Olympics through the performances of the England team at the World Cup are allowed to take up their place, instead of the decisions of the blazered misogynists who are at present preventing this.

That there is as yet no outcry, with only Lord Moynihan taking up this case, shows how far we have to go in regarding women’s sport as being of equal value. As sporting injustices based on gender go this one is about as clear cut as it gets.

Katharine Sinderson

Grimsby, Lincolnshire

Last week’s front page promoted your “50 Most Influential Women in Sport” list and your Ashes coverage. Pity then that Alison Mitchell, the first regular female voice on Test Match Special, and a highly respected cricket journalist who has been commentating on the women’s Ashes for Sky, failed to make your list. Mitchell is to cricket what Jacqui Oatley (No 8) is to football.

Martyn P Jackson

Cramlington, Northumberland

Where was Charlotte Dujardin, our reigning Olympic, world and European dressage champion, who holds all three dressage world records?

Tina Lindley

via email