How can we take the government’s climate commitments seriously while it refuses to scrap a third runway at Heathrow?

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Climate change and damage to nature are already having “dire consequences”, so why make them worse?

Living near Heathrow, I find it hard to see how the government can be making all the right noises about the environment but still continues to support the polluting third runway plan.

We have known for months now that – in the event of the expansion – there would be: a new “exceedance” of the NOx critical level in large parts of the area to the south of the airport; a third runway, which will increase CO2 emissions from air travel from 37 to 43 million tons per annum, meaning that the expansion proposed goes right against the UK’s climate commitments.

All this to say nothing of the noise pollution and traffic problems that will result.

“Talking the talk” on environmental issues is not enough. There has to be a good deal of action too.

The Rev Andrew McLuskey​
Ashford

Keep Britain tidy

Country lovers! In 2019 we learnt that measurable amounts of non-degradable plastic waste now litter the entire planet. In the form of whole items, pieces, fragments, threads or microparticles, it is found across every land and in every river and sea, from the top of Mount Everest to the depths of the Pacific.

Plastic chokes and poisons wildlife, and it entered the food chain long ago. It is in the air we breathe, and it accumulates in our own vital organs, perhaps in every cell.

But each of us could easily do something to slow this terrible assault on the ecosystem. Why not make a resolution to begin tidying things up? Whenever you go for walk, scrunch up a carrier bag for your pocket, and when you see some litter don’t just tut and walk on by. Bag it, carry it home, sort it, and bin it! You could pick up other litter, too. Paper and cardboard quickly rots down, but cans, bottles and sweet wrappers don’t.

This may not sound like much, but what a difference it would make if it became a cool thing to do. In 2020 it is even more imperative to keep Britain tidy!

P Virden
Portishead, Somerset

Labour’s double standards

I’m surprised at The Independent’s surprise “Ex-Labour MP who campaigned alongside Boris Johnson allowed to keep party membership” (30 December).

Labour Party members on the right of the party seem to have immunity from expulsion, even after campaigning against the party at election time (Tony Blair, Lords Blunkett, Straw and Kinnock, and yes, Campbell, who I think should have stayed expelled, plus plenty of others whose well-reported dislike of Corbyn overflowed the airways and filled political reportage in the press).

Going back a while, Jeremy Hardy was barred from membership for the heinous crime of backing Caroline Lucas some time earlier, and this was at a time when Labour was seeking to recruit members of other parties. His real crime, of course, at least as I see it, was that he was on the left.

I am a Labour Party member of over 30 years and will always be a supporter of Corbyn and the policies his leadership has brought about. My greatest fear now is that the right of the party regains control and so betrays the enthusiasm and idealism of those younger members who joined on seeing a politician with decency and integrity elected as leader, qualities exhibited by Jeremy Corbyn throughout his life.

Eddie Dougall​
Walsham le Willows, Suffolk

While awarding Iain Duncan-Smith a knighthood has been widely criticised, the real issue is the way the honours system works as your editorial correctly observes. The practice of awarding any MP an honour for simply sitting in the House for a number of years is wrong. The back benches are full of very ordinary MPs who have been knighted for no good reason apart from occupying a safe seat. Three examples from the Conservative back benches are Sir William Cash, Sir Peter Bone and Sir Christopher Chope; I am sure there are similar examples on the Labour back benches.

Jim Backus
Takeley, Uttlesford

The calm before the IndyRef2 storm

The political peace and quiet over Christmas has been invigorating and a reminder of what Scotland was like before the SNP gained power with its brand of ceaseless obsessive separatism.

The first minister is obviously making her way through her holiday reading list. The Scottish parliament is not active at the moment. Indeed, only the activists of All Under One Banner are stirring.

Frankly, it’s now the only time of the year where I don’t have the ever-present danger of my nation seceding from the UK and impoverishing itself both economically and socially for the sake of a co-opted pale blue saltire with “Yes” on it.

I don’t have Nicola Sturgeon constantly informing me that I would be happier in an independent Scotland, despite all evidence and public opinion pointing to the contrary.

Sadly, this lovely break won’t last. As the SNP hierarchy dust off the crumbs and squeeze into their slightly too tight work clothes (much like the rest of us) us “Yoons” are resigned to another “rough wooing” from the SNP in 2020.

David Bone
South Ayrshire

A new year’s resolution

I wonder if the Indy could have a new year’s resolution to ban the word “backlash”. Some days it seems to occur in nearly every news article. There must be a better way.

Martin Smith
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