Britain lags far behind other countries in settling Ukraine refugees – it has tarnished our name

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Refugees ought to be allowed into Britain and then be vetted in the normal way (AP)

Britain’s security services need to be vigilant, as always, but this should not prevent desperate refugees from gaining temporary respite from Vladimir Putin’s evil war on Ukraine.

Again, Priti Patel misses what refugees need in this crisis. They ought to be allowed into Britain and then be vetted in the normal way. Those with family already residing here is an ideal way of tracking refugees – they probably need less administrative and financial help, and their history can be vouched for by relatives. While here, let them work to support themselves, which will contribute to the economy and community.

Foreign countries wanting to attack Britain from within, as Russia has done, would easily find ways of doing so without having to use the cover of a crisis. Ms Patel and the government ought to help people in desperate need, not prolong the terror and uncertainty in their lives.

As with other refugees, women and children are the worst affected and least responsible for the situation, and it is those whom we ought to be aiding as urgently as possible. The UK lags far behind other countries in settling Ukraine refugees which has further tarnished Britain’s name.

Keith Poole

Basingstoke

Boris Johnson and Putin are both traitors

Boris Johnson has compared the fight against the slaughter of Ukrainian women and children in their thousands by Russian forces to people voting for the campaign of lies, deception and self-harm called Brexit.

He has drawn the wrong parallel. The similarity is that, in both cases, the leaders of the UK and Russia have betrayed their own people by pursuing policies of lies, economic and social harm, immorality and long-term destruction of opportunities for young people. Boris and Putin are both traitors.

Richard Whitton

Hadley Wood

Boris Johnson’s incompetence is an insult to Ukrainians

Mr Johnson’s latest demonstration of his unsuitability for the role of prime minister is a triple insult to Ukrainians. Not only is he oblivious or ignoring their stated wish of joining EU, but, having commented a few years ago that he had made a mistake in supporting the Leave campaign, presumably he is advocating the proletariat’s right to be free to be duped by self-serving politicians.

Mr Putin also seems to have felt “free” to enact his perverse landgrab, emboldened no doubt by a perceived weakening of the EU, created by the UK’s selfish and hastily conceived departure.

Nigel Plevin

Somerset

Jacob Rees-Mogg’s ‘war on woke’ is a joke

In his “war on woke” the insufferable Jacob Rees-Mogg wants to call Beijing Peking once again. I suggest he starts closer to home and gives London its original name of Londinium. After all, he likes Latin so much he had a Catholic mass conducted in Latin at his wedding.

Patrick ClearyGloucestershire

Who is right about badger culling?

Does licensed badger-killing aid the eradication of bovine TB? The answer depends on who you ask. According to the study published last week, no, it doesn’t. And yet according to the chief vet, farmers and cattle veterinarians, it does. Who is right?

In my experience, once effective controls are in place and after an initial lag, the effect of a successful disease control strategy is obvious. The incidence falls precipitately until the tail of the epidemic withers away. Epidemic curves of BSE and foot-and-mouth disease illustrate this well. Yet, despite almost 10 years of licensed badger-killing and enhanced controls on cattle, there is scant evidence of a similar turnaround in bovine TB incidence. In Wales, where there is no licensed badger-killing, incidence is falling quicker than in England. Infection is spreading to new areas of England necessitating badger-killing in areas that have been low-risk for decades.

A cloak of secrecy surrounds the programme. This has two main drawbacks: first, access to data is severely constrained meaning independent scrutiny is almost impossible; second, local residents – unless you occupy sufficient land – are told nothing. Where and when the killing takes place is confidential despite it appearing to take place just over my hedge.

We deserve better. Trust us: in the absence of independent analysis demonstrating that badger killing is effective, the cull appears to be another front in the government’s and landowners’ war on our wildlife. And while you are at it, have a little respect for the residents caught up in the killing zones – tell us what is going on and when.

Alick Simmons

UK Government Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, 2007-2016

Somerset