A toxic culture is now ingrained in the Tory party

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

That toxic environment, prevalent within the Boris Johnson-led Tory party, still contaminates the government and the parliamentary party to this day (PA)

Partygate and loss of confidence of his MPs forced Boris Johnson to resign, but there was a nastier, more unpleasant side to his cabinet.

Whilst Johnson was allegedly oblivious and unaware of the Partygate shenanigans within No 10, holders of senior posts in his government were operating according to their own agenda. There have been accusations of bullying in the highest offices of state, and later, Johnson selected Nadhim Zahawi as chancellor of the exchequer, who has now been sacked for concealing his multi-million pound fine by the taxation authorities.

Also, of course, there is the money that went to Tory cronies in the PPE and testing VIP scandals. Scandals where over-priced, unusable PPE was sourced from inexperienced and obscure companies (and we are now paying out still more millions for its destruction).

So blatant was this siphoning off of taxpayers’ money that even the Tories have got cold feet. On 19 December 2022 it emerged that the government would sue PPE Medpro for £122m plus costs. The government said that medical gowns which were supplied by the company “did not comply with the specification in the contract” and could not be used in the NHS – a company championed by Tory Baroness Mone.

Corruption and bullying now seem endemic in the Tory party. So much so that the ubiquitous Jacob Rees-Mogg states that people who complain about bullying are “snowflakes” – seeming to confirm that bullying is an integral part of the toxic culture of the Tory Party.

That toxic environment, prevalent within the Boris Johnson-led Tory party, still contaminates the government and the parliamentary party to this day.

Andrew Milroy

Address supplied

The House of Lords needs the Church of England

Bishops have sat in the House of Lords since the 14th century and in Westminster for over 200 years, bringing much–needed spiritual wisdom and application based on the Bible, which has been the inspiration for laws in this country.

The House of Lords gives wise oversight of new laws suggested by the House of Commons, often correcting the misguided thinking of our elected politicians. The Christian church, with its teaching from the Bible, has inspired most of the institutions which have helped and given leadership to this nation, and provided sound teaching for how to live as loving, caring individuals, as families, communities, businesses and society as a whole.

Bishops often have years of experience – not only in the church – but in business and in helping ease many of the most profound problems of society. Without the Bible’s guidance, many societies and countries fall into chaos. There is a small minority that is calling for the bishops to be removed from their roles in the House of Lords as they feel bishops and the Christian church are not relevant or fully inclusive of society. I would question if these individuals or groups are as inclusive as the Christian church.

I would also ask what book of teaching these people would suggest we use as an alternative foundation for this country’s loving and peaceful future if we ignore the Bible.

Jonathan Longstaff

East Sussex

Don’t deprive all dogs of liberty

In reference to Victoria Richards’ article, surely it would have been worth noting that dogs are not exceptional, and we can find bad apples in every species? For instance, 44,000 cases of human knife crime were reported in the UK in 2022, meaning that statistically, you are far more likely to be stabbed by a human than bitten by a dog.

We teach children not to go off with or engage with strangers. Likewise, it’s good practice to advise them to respect dogs’ personal space and to avoid engagement. Dogs will take very little interest in you if you avert your gaze, stand still, and are incredibly boring. If you wave balls and sticks, arms and legs, and run and shout, they will likely get excited and want to join in and play. Most (but not all) would be friendly and harmless – the good apples.

There are many examples of good dogs in the UK: 4,800 guide dogs for the blind; 1,100 hearing dogs for the deaf, about 100 medical detection dogs, more than 7,000 people rely on an assistance dog, and more than 100 search and rescue dogs on call across the UK.

Add to these the very large number of dogs who are loyal family pets, and it should become obvious that dogs are not typically “dangerous animals”. As with humans, we should identify and contain those who are dangerous, but we shouldn’t seek to deprive all dogs of liberty in public places.

Grizelda Graham

Addressed Supplied

Boris can’t really believe in Brexit

Amber Rudd’s expanded anecdote about Boris Johnson and his repeated invitation to share the back of his car is amusing. The "lift" he has given the entire country in the back of his Brexit bus is less so.

It is far from the liberating experience Johnson and Brexit’s other promoters promised and has proved itself neither free nor in any sense entertaining. The experience will get worse before it gets better and a quick show of hands suggests the majority want it to end. Nevertheless, it continues its bone-jarring meander along the road to impoverishment and there is not even the prospect of a comfort break for a couple of years or so – tough call.

Johnson himself cannot be entirely content with the merits of a jaunt he sold us with such enthusiasm. He has already suggested that President Zelensky and Ukraine would be in a better position by joining the EU.

David Nelmes   

Newport