Given we’ll be repaying all the money being borrowed, shouldn’t we decide where it goes?

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Raw deal: the mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham (Rex Features)

Like most decent people I am appalled at the government’s treatment of Andy Burnham and the people of Manchester.

I may be wrong but aren’t we the people who will be repaying all the money being borrowed and squandered by the government? And probably for generations to come. If so, I’d rather the money was spent supporting the citizens of this country, rather than lining the pockets of incompetent private health companies that seem to be benefitting from ties to the Conservative Party.

Ken Twiss

Cleveland

At a time when the national debt is ballooning and many businesses are failing and needing financial support, the chancellor will need to look at a variety of sources for increased tax revenue.

It is clear that many businesses owned by friends of and donors to the Conservative Party and many other assorted businesses, most notably supermarkets and online retailers, have flourished financially during this crisis.

It does not seem unreasonable to expect those businesses to share some of their Covid-related excess profits with the exchequer. We are, apparently, all in this together, so what could be more equitable than a partial redistribution of these profits of the few for the benefit of the many?

Nick Eastwell

London SE10

History teaches us to be hopeful

The current situation with coronavirus is very worrying to many, but it’s not like this kind of thing hasn’t happened before. We should not fear the current situation, but find the best way possible to deal with it and its aftermath.

There is talk of a recession when lockdown finally ends. During the 1930s, Sheffield endured the worst of recessions. It was during the same decade that our magnificent Central Library was opened. That our city forefathers were able to build such a magnificent civic building in such times gives us hope for the future.  

Matthew Smith

Sheffield

What’s in a name, Boris?

I remember the 1985 men’s singles final at Wimbledon and what a shock it was to see Boris Becker lifting the winner’s trophy. Following on from that success, I remember his tennis career going from strength to strength.

I also remember increasing reports, as the years went by, involving various trials and tribulations, alleged shenanigans and sundry transgressions, which if I am not mistaken have now culminated in bankruptcy and allegations of various assets being omitted in said proceedings.

Far be it from me to stand in judgement. However, it did cross my mind that possibly it might be connected to his given name. After all, I think we are only too aware of another Boris who also appears to lack a moral compass.  

Robert Boston

Kingshill

Not all black people share the same experiences

Kemi Badenoch makes the same mistake as that made by activists who argue that all black people are disadvantaged because they live in a white country (‘Equalities minister says anti-discrimination drives can "create prison for black people"’, 22 October). She assumes that all black people share the same experiences.  

I would suggest that this is a gross over-simplification. In fact, there is no such thing as a universal “black” experience, it is much more nuanced and complicated than that and is affected by, among other things, wealth and class.

I note that Ms Badenoch has a pretty privileged background. Her parents were highly paid professionals and I very much doubt that her experiences as a black person, whether living in Nigeria, the US or the UK were anything like the norm for black people in any of those countries.  

She may well be right when she suggests that there are many worse places to be black than the UK, but she can’t possibly compare her life experiences with that of a black single mother living on a housing estate in Tower Hamlets.

Antony Robson  

Westbury