Keir Starmer is best positioned to fix our international reputation

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From day one of a Starmer government, Britain can have a fresh start and finally regain respect on the international stage (PA Wire)

So, the Conservatives accuse Sir Keir Starmer of trying to unpick Brexit just because he has a photo opportunity and chat with President Macron.

The meeting that Sir Keir had was in our national and economic interests, because a year from now I believe he will be within weeks of being prime minister.

Given the Conservatives’ appalling record as regards Anglo-French relations, this meeting is most welcome.

After all, it is probably thanks to these talks that from day one of a Starmer government, Britain can have a fresh start and finally regain respect on the international stage, even though we have left the EU.

Which is more than can be said for Boris Johnson’s oven-readiness and his true Brexit stance which wasn’t hard or soft but simply aimed at protecting the richest 1 per cent at the expense of the rest.

Geoffrey Brooking

Hampshire

We must try harder to protect women from abusive men

As allegations of abuse by powerful men hit the headlines once again, we really need to encourage serious debate on how we stop this persistent abuse of women from men in positions of privilege. The list is long, a veritable conveyor belt of misogynistic men impervious to justice, many of who remain hidden and are protected by their wealth and status. They employ the best legal teams and make their case on social media, so that the odds are stacked up against the individuals alleging abuse.

This problem is endemic in society, with female politicians, surgeons, footballers and comedians detailing the abuse they have received and outlining the reasons it pervades. Without women being able to come forward en masse this problem will never go away. What is needed is for the government to accept this is a massive problem, and that it needs a radical approach to turn the tide in favour of women.

We need a simpler way of reporting all levels of abuse experienced by women to the police, that both protects women and also provides the courts with enough information to prosecute and prevent further incidents. If we can target these offenders, the publicity generated by successful prosecutions should lead to permanent changes in behaviour by all men, and also encourage women to start fighting back.

Paul Morrison

Glasgow

What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Alan Rusbridger’s article discussing the current furore surrounding the allegations laid at Russell Brand’s door makes for compelling reading. Clearly thousands of Brand’s followers see these lurid stories in the press as some kind of conspiracy theory; a character assassination attempt by “others” who don’t like his message (which could be anyone from Big Pharma to the Lizard people, according to Rusbridger).

However, whether the man is guilty of anything remains for the courts to decide (if it comes to that), and while he’s high-profile and a divisive character, I’m uncomfortably aware that only recently we were treated to very similar lurid headlines and stories surrounding Kevin Spacey’s “behaviour” and his subsequent total acquittal in court.

Whether there are people or “dark forces” looking to “get” Brand remains to be seen, but the deplorable and unfounded attacks and accusations on Spacey prove we need to “wind our necks in”, and leave this debacle on the sidelines until we can get to the truth. Innocent until proven guilty still holds sway in this country, surely?

Steve Mackinder

Denver

Better in than out

Comments by Mark Spencer, minister of state for food, farming and fisheries, that Keir Starmer was “looking back with pink-tinted spectacles” are quite alarmingly dismissive of better times.

My belief is that Mr Starmer is attempting to rationalise, and perhaps change, the absurdity of Britain’s Brexit decision in conjunction with Mr Macron. It is obvious that the Tory-promised benefits of leaving the EU have not materialised, leaving Britain much poorer and failing fast.

In my lifetime I have experienced, after we became a member of the EU club, easy access to most European countries, travel and working without barriers in France and Germany. Britain has benefited from trading within the largest commercial bloc in the world. It is not a question of looking back, as Mr Spencer is suggesting, but trying to return to a more sensible way of cooperation with our nearest neighbours.

To sneer at the thought of an aspiration of betterment is to deprive the British people of a much better standard of living, security, scientific collaboration, free movement of goods and people, and much more.

Britain has lost all the positive gains while in the EU due to the lies and deceit by the Tory governments of Mr Cameron and Mr Johnson. Through the atrocious mismanagement of the past 14 years Britain has spiralled down to rock bottom, has become a laughing stock on the world stage and is being run down by a government out of touch with its people, and entirely out of ideas.

So sneer as much as you like, Mr Spencer, but they were better days within the EU. Maybe you, but certainly your party, will be out of government come the election.

Keith Poole

Basingstoke