We are witnessing the final throes of the Conservative Party

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This is an admission of the failure and chaos at the heart of the ruling Conservative Party (PA)

The latest policy change to address the UK’s immigration issue is a final twist in the death throes of this increasingly Kafkaesque Conservative administration.

The claim that reducing immigration will, among other assumed benefits, result in a rise in pay for British workers is a new twist, especially when you consider that this government has consistently resisted pay claims in the health and care sector (which relies heavily on immigrant workers and will suffer massively if immigration is reduced) and the rail industry.

The recently announced high net immigration figures includes refugees from Ukraine and British passport holders from Hong Kong. These numbers will naturally reduce over time. No doubt this natural reduction will be used by the government to support their claim that its new approach to immigration has worked.

To be honest, I think a Kafkaesque nightmare is preferable to the reality of this administration.

Steve Brooks

North Shields

Spot the difference

With Keir Starmer’s recent praise of Margaret Thatcher and his outreach to Tory voters, it’s clear to me that the country is quickly proceeding to a one-party state. The electorate cannot have a clear choice between the two main parties, who are so similar. Surely now must be the time to again discuss the possibility of proportional representation?

Carl Carlson

Mid Glamorgan

Political sticking plaster

Yet again we see Conservative cabinet ministers pandering to the right wing of the Conservative Party, with a so-called five-point immigration plan that amounts to even more sticking plaster to cover up failed policies.

No wonder Rishi Sunak has fallen to his lowest-ever opinion poll rating amongst Conservative Party activists. The formerly highly respected James Cleverly has seen his rating plummet too.

With opinion polls showing Labour now 23 points higher than the Conservatives (45 per cent to 22 per cent), this is an admission of the failure and chaos at the heart of the ruling Conservative Party.

Geoffrey Brooking

Hampshire

People Power

The global energy system is unfair on consumers. Far too many of us are trapped into paying exorbitant prices for dirty fossil fuel energy. As well as accelerating climate change, fossil fuels pose a major threat to people’s health. All of this is a matter of consumer rights.

Cop28 is our chance to radically transform the global energy system by putting power in the hands of people. Empowering consumers to install clean energy solutions, like solar panels, batteries, smart meters, and other electrical devices would reduce their emissions and lower, or even wipe out, their bills.

It’s not just about expensive tech in affluent homes – but unleashing people-powered energy across the globe, from Albania to Zimbabwe. In Europe, switching to smart heat pumps alone reduces household heating costs by up to 25 per cent compared to gas. In rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, installing a simple solar lantern means spending on lighting falls by 85 per cent.

Global leaders at Cop28 must seize the opportunity to democratise energy – which will help them to avert climate catastrophe, through systems that are cleaner, more efficient, and resilient, while people enjoy lower energy bills and better air quality.

To unleash this huge potential, consumers need fair upfront financing and fair payments for providing energy and flexibility services to the grid. We all need trusted information and advice to understand the solutions on offer.

As representatives of consumers around the world, we know the time has come to accelerate people-powered clean energy. It’s the only viable future for both consumers and the climate.

Letter signed by: Helena Leurent, Director General, Consumers International, Amrat Singh, Director, CUTS International, India, Dr Nada Nehme, Vice President, Consumers Lebanon, Maite Cortés, Executive Director, Colectivo Ecologista Jalisco, Mexico, Zoran Nikolic, Vice-President, National Consumer Organisation of Serbia, Yasir Suliman, Secretary General, Sudanese Consumer Protection Society, Crisólogo Cáceres, President, Peruvian Association of Consumers and Users (ASPEC), Seema Shandil,Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Council of Fiji, Ashim Sanyal, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary, Consumer Voice, India, Anja Philip,President, The Danish Consumer Council (Forbrugerrådet Tænk), Denmark, Olof King, Director of Advocacy, Consumentenbond, Netherlands, Shamita K.C, Secretary, Socio Economic Welfare Action for Women and Children (SEWA), Nepal, Oumar Traoré, Coordinator, Consumer Defence Group of Mali (REDECOMA), Said bin Nasser Al-Khusaibi, Chairman, Oman Association for Consumer Protection, Nouri Mahaman, President, Association for the Protection of Consumer Rights (ADDC Wadata), Niger, Michael Mungoma Okumu, Director of Programmes, Youth Education Network (YEN), Kenya, Dr Fadhl Mansour,President, Yemen Association for Consumer Protection