Only Boris Johnson could spin the climate crisis as an ‘opportunity’

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Boris Johnson has claimed there are ‘opportunities’ for the UK from melting ice caps, as he hosts the Cop26 summit in Glasgow (Getty Images)

You have to hand it to him. By spinning the destruction of the habitability of the planet for human life as an “opportunity” – because melting ice caps will open trade routes – Boris Johnson has managed to make turning up to Cop26 completely pointless.

What was it all for, Boris? What’s the use of absolutely all of the last 10,000 years and the millions of years of human evolution, if we sacrifice it for a few years of shipping across the Arctic Circle?

What next? Sign off Cop26 with a rendition of “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”?

Ian Henderson

Norwich, Norfolk

Tory sleaze

The latest episode of the series “Tory Sleaze” has now reached box set proportions. Of course, the end of each episode must have a cliffhanger to keep viewers eager for the next. Well, this government certainly knows how to feed the storyline.

Their self-serving vote to save Owen Paterson from the consequences of his own actions was equivalent to the majority of the government side putting two fingers up to the people. Then again, just what will it take for the voters to turn against this dreadful government?

On balance, I am more disappointed with my fellow citizens, whatever their politics, who seem willing to accept a parliament unwilling to sanction one of its so-called “honourable” members.

Graham Barlow

Wirral

Great expectations?

There has been much agitation against smart motorways and the alleged danger of the absence of a hard shoulder. There are hundreds of miles of dual carriageway in the UK, with the same speed limit as motorways and no hard shoulders. Is, then, the problem not with the design of the motorways but with the assumptions, expectations and behaviour of drivers?

Martin Smith

Headington

Oh well, Nicola

Nicola Sturgeon has stated that Scotland and London have more to gain by “working together as partners”. If only Scotland was already in some sort of long-standing, political, economic and social union, based in the British Isles, where nations could share resources, technology and talent, but with enough flexibility to reflect cultural and geographical differences. Oh well.

David Bone

Girvan, South Ayrshire

In praise of Michael Heseltine

I know why Michael Heseltine is more successful than I am. I could never have expressed my views with such comprehensive accuracy and fluency as he has done. I disagree on one single point: we will never regain the respect and influence, nor the preferential treatment we had negotiated over the years, which we once enjoyed in the EU.

Globalisation has brought many economies and a plethora of goods and services not otherwise affordable to us, but it brings massive vulnerabilities and risks. The fundamental issue is that the world is a dangerous place, both from a commercial and a security point of view. Modern security and prosperity lies in cooperation. A “union” has far more influence than a fragmented gaggle of nations.

I live in Scotland because I love the culture, the people, the landscape and the general political tone. (It is also where my ancestors are from.) I am, however, a citizen of the United Kingdom. I was also very happy to be a member of the European Union and enjoyed many of its benefits.

May we be forgiven for what we are offering our grandchildren.

Chris Dixon

Dumfries

I read Lord Heseltine’s comprehensive analysis of the impact and implications of Brexit with tears in my eyes. There is nothing to add. And I take up his call to arms – we must not give up on our efforts. Firstly, to improve the disastrous deal our government reached in the name of getting Brexit done and ultimately to rejoin our friends and partners in Europe and reclaim our position in the world.

Anne Wolff

Cookham