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There is an extremely cogent case for retail closure across the UK for Boxing Day. Society needs a break from the clatter of the roll pallet. Retail is not an emergency service.
In Germany, Boxing Day is correctly called “Second Christmas Day”. Thus as an integral part of Christmas, Boxing Day should be about chilling out, family, friends, and the pastimes of time immemorial – NOT the sales.
There is also an extremely cogent case for much earlier retail closure on Christmas Eve to enable retail workers to get home safely. Public transport is limited. And to be able to partake in Christmas rituals like the Christingle services on Christmas Eve afternoon. Retail would benefit hugely from a good two and a half-day Christmas closure. More goods would be bought before and upon reopening.
It would be a win-win for all.
John Barstow
Pulborough
Populism past and present
There was a time when populism was simply a message to governments of democratic need, often based on a lack of awareness by politicians. Wise government would use such knowledge carefully and apply strategic responses to address the grievances. Now populism is effectively a dominant political tool which, fuelled by irresponsible social media and exceptionally incapable politicians, extends beyond the flim-flam of manifesto fantasy.
In the US, populism has allowed an aggressive businessman whose commercial activity is apparently unethical to treat the constitution with utter contempt; and he will probably prevail.
In the UK, populism has enabled a man whose only qualification for role is as a journalistic hack whose message has been of snobbish contempt for all and sundry, to lead the country down a path which anyone with any financial understanding can see clearly is the road to ruin; and at this stage it appears that the die is cast.
Matt Minshall
Norfolk
You can’t have your IndyRef 2 cake and eat it
Nicola Sturgeon’s latest beef is that she has a mandate for a new referendum whereas Boris Johnson does not have a mandate for Brexit. She should consider the facts before whingeing about this: Johnson is acting on the basis of a referendum result in which he was on the winning side; Ms Sturgeon’s party demanded a referendum and lost it. It is clear which of them has a mandate, and it is not Sturgeon. I write as a Remainer (in both unions).
Jill Stephenson
Edinburgh
Labour’s uncertain future
Jeremy Corbyn’s policies are here to stay – so I read on your website... well that will ensure (and he is going soon anyway) that I will not be voting for the party, not that we need to worry now that we have some time with Boris Johnson.
BUT if there can’t be a total overhaul of the Labour Party, and if the same issues remain, they will be out of office for quite some time. And if they should get back in office, and everyone in the country sees what happens, once they are gone again, they will be history unless their policies change.
Tony Blair, let’s not forget is the only Labour prime minister to win three elections in 40 years. Now, him I’d vote for. His supporters are decrying the most successful Labour prime minister that I can remember, while mourning Corbyn. They must be in a minority.
Catherine Cave
Address supplied
Farewell to the Lib Dems
And boom, in one fell swoop the Lib Dems are out of the news again for the next five years. For goodness sake, can we elect a leader with some character and some guts please? Then can we stop relegating ourselves to the fringes of opposition by merely decrying government policies as a bad idea.
At the general election the public knew, and know now, nothing of our policies beyond the stop Brexit slogan, which pissed them all off (myself included). Let’s start shouting out the things we would do instead if we were to have a throw of the dice. Then perhaps, come the next election, the voters will have an inkling of what is on offer. Because let’s face it, no one reads manifestos any more.
Abigail MacCartney
Oakham
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