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What a shame that Donald Trump is having to stay in his ambassador’s residence on 12 July when the British government could have provided a prestige level of accommodation commensurate with his position as president of the United States. A precedent in this regard was set in 1780 when one of Mr Trump’s predecessors, one Henry Laurens, was accommodated in the Tower of London.
Although not in the same class as Trump Tower, as a consummate builder of towers surely Mr Trump would appreciate such a gesture. In addition he might appreciate being only the second American ever to be given such prestige treatment, which might partially compensate him for any childish balloon demonstrations by some of his detractors. Henry Laurens had been president of the Continental Congress of the United States from 1777 to 1778 and was the first American to enjoy London’s hospitality in the tower.
The tower has been used for almost a thousand years to accommodate all that is dear to us and is already guarded 24/7, which would save austerity-hit British taxpayers on the cost of security. Sadly, Mr Laurens was charged for his accommodation, leading him to famously claim that the tower was too expensive for him and he would have to find somewhere cheaper.
We would not make such an undiplomatic error again. Only free accommodation in the tower at the expense of the British government realistically represents the esteem with which this president is held in the minds of the British people.
John Goffey
Berkhamsted
The establishment has chosen to go against the people, but we will resist
Unlike many other Leavers I am sanguine about the consequences of the cabinet’s agreement on the UK’s negotiating position.
With no cabinet minister willing to resign over this appalling plan for capitulation, pro-Leave Conservative MPs now have the clarity of a single candidate to coalesce around in any leadership election. If Jacob Rees-Mogg seizes the moment, he could very well be prime minister by the autumn and lead us to a genuine exit from the EU.
If there is no successful leaver leadership challenge, then the Conservative Party is unlikely to win the next election. It will only take a modest percentage of support to defect to another party or to choose not to vote to make the difference between government and a hung parliament or a Labour victory.
Also, we can now expect the emergence of a populist movement to rival those in other European countries. Any populist party will not be narrowly focused, as Ukip was in the past, but will champion a wide range of issues, where the current political parties are in agreement with one another, but in opposition to much of the electorate.
The establishment has chosen to defy the people; one way or another the people will fight back.
Otto Inglis
Edinburgh
The smokescreen is fading
So, two weeks after Donald Trump’s super-hyped meeting with a real dictator, the illusion of progress has been smashed by the tinniest application of reality. Only two days after Theresa May announced a Brexit agreement with the rabid Brexiteers (albeit one the EU would never sanction), that delusion too is smashed.
Yes – as the hapless Mike Pompeo tries to do the impossible and come even 1 per cent towards the nonsense spoken by Mr Trump in his quest for something else Barack Obama has that he wants (a Nobel peace prize), the North Koreans are unimpressed. And as Boris Johnson seeks to bolt together his crumbly Conservative credentials after avoiding the vote on the Heathrow airport expansion, never mind resign after claiming he’d lie down on the runway to prevent it – we see that, in the US and the UK, the smoke is thinning and the mirrors are badly cracked.
Amanda Baker
Edinburgh
Will Jeremy Corbyn be flying his St George’s flag to honour England’s World Cup success?
I just wondered if that well known England supporter Jeremy Corbyn will now be flying the flag of St George outside his home to show solidarity with our football team’s continued success in the Russian World Cup?
If not perhaps he could give an explanation?
Simon Fawthrop, councillor for Petts Wood and Knoll ward
Bromley
Who will bring Theresa May’s premiership to an end?
The naked innocence of our illustrious prime minister and her belief browbeating the Bullingdon Club bullies of the mid-1980s will succeed is so quaint it almost acquires credibility. Almost.
Recall that the remaining bullies of that loathsome era to make it seriously in government includes the foreign secretary Boris Johnson Johnson along with his compatriots David Cameron, Michael Gove, William Hague, Jeremy Hunt and George Osborne.
Mr Johnson, despite his penchant for errors, his impressive, natural incompetence and his honed political ill-judgement, actually believes in his divine right to replace ineptitude. So, as the night of the long knives saw off the Iron Lady, so too will the bullies see off May. The question is when.
Keith Jago
Brighton
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