Prince Andrew’s trainwreck interview did nothing but raise more questions about Epstein

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If Prince Andrew’s recollection of a meal in a Pizza Express restaurant 18 years ago is correct, he must have an exceptional memory. If he’s looking for an alibi, all he has to do is to provide a credit card receipt – simple!

There’s also the question of other diners, particularly members of his party, who you’d assume would never forget seeing such a senior, high-profile member of the royal family in their local pizza restaurant.

I am struggling to think of an excuse for his claim not to have met one of Jeffrey Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, when there is a publicly available photograph of him with his arm around her bare waist.

Furthermore, the prince’s claim that he could not have been seen sweating while dancing with Giuffre in a nightclub (because he is unable to sweat) seems medically incorrect. Anhidrosis is the condition preventing someone from being able to perspire. However, he claimed it was due to an excess of adrenaline after the Falklands war. This is in spite of common knowledge that too much adrenaline will cause a person to sweat much more than usual.

In his own words, “I let the side down” seems to be Prince Andrew’s only verifiable claim. Regardless of whether he is innocent or guilty of the accusations, this is a serious issue and it warrants attention from the police. No one should be above the law.

Christopher Learmont-Hughes
Caldy, Merseyside

What’s wrong with tactical voting?

I am at a loss to understand why democracy fails us if we rely on tactical voting.

Many agree first past the post is an undemocratic electoral method.

So it follows, does it not, if an undemocratically elected parliament can not provide democracy, the citizens must.

It is elitist and patronising, in the extreme, to suggest that the citizen cannot make nuanced choices to avoid a worse choice.

If I cannot have my best electoral choice is it not better to choose another who espouses much of what I aspire to and so ensuring that a worse choice is avoided?

Isn’t that the essence of democracy?

Hugh Woodhouse
Brighton

Labour’s spending proposals

Labour’s generous promise of free broadband for all would cost around £1bn a month. This is a conservative estimate, and does not take into account the cost of getting the service to many of the underprivileged and outlying areas, or maintenance.

If people choose to believe this and the many other impossible, desperate promises of our political hopefuls, they deserve all they will not get.

Matt Minshall
Norfolk

What does the rapid, extensive, aggressive knee-jerk condemnation of Labour’s telecoms plans tell us when it’s too soon to be based upon facts? The answer: monied interests, wealthy from ex-national assets, are afraid that the people will take back their property.

Kellie Principle
Exeter

Abandoning British children

We are increasingly gripped by the fear of saying the wrong things – while constantly doing them.

So, if anyone is wondering whether they dare say that it’s worse to have a woman with brown skin – Priti Patel – bragging about abandoning British children caught up in the Middle East conflict we helped fuel, the answer from a woman with brown skin is – YES – it is worse.

Amanda Baker
Edinburgh