Once Boris Johnson is elected, the country will be governed properly again

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I just wonder if the latest article by Andrew Grice [Boris Johnson knows he’s close to losing this election – that’s the real reason the Tory manifesto is so weak] and many like it are dreams written on paper or drug-induced hallucinations.

How else could someone be so far out of touch with reality? Do your reporters not see the polls and the lead that Boris has established? Do they not talk to real people outside of the London bubble?

Many of us who were staunch Labour voters will never again vote Labour as long as the likes of Corbyn and Abbott are on the front benches.

The Lib Dems? Oh please, Jo Swinson is way out of her depth and hasn’t got a clue.

I can assure Mr Grice and all your readers that after 12 December we will once again be able to proceed with governance, without the shackles of a negative opposition, because there will be a large enough majority to allow it.

William MacLean​
Huntingdon

An opposite take

Andrew Grice’s piece is interesting and well written. The only problem is that, as an intelligent, educated person who has followed and studied politics, Grice has made the usual fatal mistake of assuming that it will be intelligent, well-informed people deciding this election.

It will be a country of soap opera-watching, reality TV-obsessed people with short attention spans, many of whom, even in deprived austerity-devastated parts of the country, still describe Johnson as a “lovable rogue”.

Many voters do not care, have not noticed or do not remember his corruption (the Garden Bridge fiasco, the water cannons) or the lying (both personal and public) or the racism (Obama, women in burqas). And on and on. They do not care that he ousted the moderates in his own party. And the mantra of “get Brexit done” is false and ridiculous as it obviously has traction in a way that Corbyn’s promise to not make a decision about the most important and devastating issue of our generation has not. Unsurprisingly.

Amanda Baker
Edinburgh

We have the right to stop Brexit

The Lib Dem’s “Cancel Brexit” is not undemocratic.

Their pledge to cancel Brexit on day one only applies in the event that they had won a majority – standing on that policy among others – in the general election, therefore, if that result were to occur it would be entirely democratic for them to do so.

However, the confusion that this policy has produced both in Friday’s debate and from one of your correspondents yesterday demonstrates perfectly why I (as an ardent Remainer) thought it was a mistake from the day it was announced.

Chris Santry
Chalfont St Peter

Smoke and mirrors?

The Conservative Party is a gigantic confidence trick, which exists only to look after itself and its pals. Despite all their bleating about One-Nation Conservatism, the Tories recognise only one group that is worth looking after, and that is the rich, the elite and the privileged.

I continue to be amazed as to how the Tories manage to con people into voting for them after they have done so little for our country.

Some people regard voting Tory as a badge of success and status, whereas it is, in reality, an admission of failure to think clearly. Message to all voters – your country needs you! Do not vote Conservative! Vote for an EU-supporting candidate whose party aims to safeguard your long-term interests. Don’t let the present bunch of right-wing charlatans steal your life and your prospects from you.

Sam Boote
Keyworth, Nottingham

Tactical failings

In every general election that I can remember, the electorate has been asked to use tactical voting by one group or another. This is an obvious indication that our system is unsatisfactory.

In all these years, what has the Electoral Reform Society been doing, what has it achieved and is it proud of itself?

Tony Baker
Thirsk, North Yorkshire

Vegetarianism and deforestation

Brazil is about 5,500 miles from Britain, and yet we can find a link in Britain to the deforestation in the Amazon. This link is between our fast-food chains, particularly Burger King, and deforestation.

I learnt that if we can persuade fast food outlets such as Burger King to stop getting its meat and also its animal feed of soya from the Amazon, this would put huge economic pressure on President Bolsonaro to put out the fires in the Amazon. It would also help to protect the indigenous people whose lives are threatened by rainforest destruction.

Personally, I have written to Burger King UK head office asking them to stop getting their meat and animal feed (soya) supplies from the Brazilian rainforest, until the Amazonian fires are put out and the forests and their indigenous people are protected.

I’m vegetarian, and another important thing we can all do is to cut down on our meat consumption, particularly beef consumption. This is because the Amazon rainforest is cleared for cattle ranches and to grow animal feed.

Instead of despairing about what is happening, I like to read and look into what practical action I can take, starting locally. This is perhaps one useful way forward in helping to resolve some of the urgent ecological problems that greatly affect us all.

Leon Fields
Dundee