The Knowsley riot highlights the need for moderation in language

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Suella Braverman is pouring fuel on the fire of division (PA)

The Knowsley riot outside a hotel housing some of the most desperate people in the world highlights the need for moderation in the language used by our politicians. 

I can’t help but see how the language of the home secretary and others has given legitimacy to those seeking to promote hate.

One of the roles of a government is to promote and encourage social cohesion and to treat all members of society with respect and dignity. What we have though, is Suella Braverman pouring fuel on the fire of division, aiding extremist right-wing groups by referring to those crossing the channel as “an invasion”. She constantly refers to migrants arriving in this country illegally, whilst failing to highlight her government’s responsibility for removing any legal means for migrants to enter the UK to claim asylum.

The use of social media to spread false stories –tales of predatory foreigners; claims that migrants live a life of luxury in hotels – is another huge issue. The potential for anyone to promote a story as factual is terrifying, made infinitely worse by algorithms used by social media companies. These ensure that posts containing the same political content instantly appear in a reader’s feed. A fact-check warning does not seem to be enough to prevent false stories from running wild, leading to the scenes witnessed at the weekend.

It is the responsibility of legislators and social media companies to work together to find a way to prevent the spread of false stories. In the meantime, toning down the rhetoric would be a good start toward promoting social harmony.

Karen Brittain

York

When it comes to Brexit the public has lost its appetite

Adam Forrest reports the damaging effects of Brexit and the secretive Ditchley Park meeting to “unravel the deals we did to exit the EU in 2020”. The collective moves to unravel the mess are a welcome recognition and a start. However, repair is insufficient.

Lord Frost, John Redwood, and the unelectable Nigel Farage are yesterday’s men; the fading voices of a failed and harmful project. Lord Frost helpfully points out that the Conservative government was elected with “a huge mandate on a Brexit programme” – Johnson’s “oven-ready deal”. You cannot uncook a turkey.

A public informed by bitter experience knows when they have been conned and the game is up.  Reliable polls indicate that were there to be an election today, the Tory party would face a threat bordering on existential and Brexit is a major factor. The public has lost its appetite for Brexit. The last mandate has unofficially expired and a new one needs to be confirmed by public vote.

The Labour Party, however, is indistinguishable from their Tory rivals in seeking to make the best of the discredited Brexit referendum mandate. Public opinion has changed and they need to think again and at the very least promise another referendum.

If the mechanism was appropriate to take us out of the EU, it is appropriate to take us back in. If we then vote to stay out so be it.

David Nelmes

Newport

Would the EU even want to take Britain back?

In his letter “The UK is homeless in Europe”, Steve Mackinder asks given where our political parties are now, and the state of our economy, would the EU want us back anyway?

It is a very pertinent question, and sadly my feeling is that they would not even contemplate any form of return by the UK until all our main political parties were wholeheartedly behind such a move. As things stand now, I feel that is a very long way off.

John Daintith

Chew Magna

How much more money does Boris Johnson need?

How often have we heard Tory ministers telling us mere mortals we have to live within our means? But here we have ex-PM Boris on a salary of over £84,000 plus £5m in outside income as well as free Caribbean holidays, having to borrow £800k to keep up his lifestyle.

This is on top of the grants and the extra cash he needed to decorate his flat. Still, with his book deals and speaking engagements he should see all his money worries now disappear. Pity he can’t do likewise.

Geoff Forward

Stirling

The Labour Party has a plan to turn Britain around

It’s no surprise that Labour is now seen as the party of business. The UK is, after all, the only G7 country with negative growth this year.

Since the EU referendum, all the Tories have done is fight amongst themselves.

Yet since Keir Starmer has become Labour leader, the party has put together a plan to turn around Britain. A plan that includes more training opportunities for people to gain new skills, access better jobs, and grow our economy by reforming the apprenticeship system. A general election cannot come soon enough.

Geoffrey Brooking

Hampshire