To play her cards right, Theresa May should keep Boris Johnson in the deck

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Theresa May, the Home Secretary, is the frontrunner in the race to become Tory leader (PA)

If Theresa May plays her winning hand to become Prime Minister this week, she will have many difficult decisions to make, not least remembering the nuclear codes. Aside from fighting Isis, she must decide what to do with the ultimate elephant in the room: Boris the Joker.

She must reshuffle the deck with care, not least to avoid the potentially lethal Gove card, perhaps by sending the Grinning Destroyer to the Lords.

Rightfully admonished for his tomfoolery over Brexit, Johnson is still too big a beast to leave on the back benches, licking his wounds onward to another sponsored sky-dive into Number 10. Therefore she must play the fickle Boris card with care and keep him, like a naughty child, out from under her feet but always within sight.

May must always be vigilant that Boris will use the gift of a government post as a Trojan horse to undermine her, but it is a gamble she must take. She could trump her doubters by playing him as a wild card – a move which would help her win over Sun readers, and Labour and working class voters, in their droves.

As Deputy Prime Minister, or with a steady apprenticeship in the Cabinet, on culture or at the Home Office, Johnson can then find out if he is worth his salary or to be taken with a pinch of salt.

May has already proved herself the queen of the pack, capable of winning a comfortable majority of her own at a snap general election. If she taps into the "Boris effect" and charms Rupert Murdoch she can go on to win a landslide beyond even the wildest dreams of Margaret Thatcher.

Anthony Rodriguez
Staines-Upon-Thames

Life in a post-Brexit world

Here’s a hypothetical. Let’s imagine you aren’t happy with your job (say, 52 per cent not happy) and you are thinking about leaving. You fantasise about the potential of your unshackled self. You think, “I could finally write that Man Booker novel, or become the new Ansel Adams. Hell, Zuckerberg’s got it easy –why not make a website?” Sounds good, right?

At the EU referendum the country faced a similar decision – between a reality that 52 per cent of people weren’t happy with, and a fantasy. Now, post-Brexit, we are still don’t have a vision of a Britain outside the EU. I suspect that when we do, the Brexit camp will fall apart.

It’s easy to unite behind something that doesn’t exist but the devil really is in the detail. Can we be part of the single market and opt out of free movement? What will all these new shiny trade deals actually look like? When will the politicians give us a guarantee on workers’ rights? Exactly how much extra money will go to the NHS? And so on. These questions need to be answered and put into a concrete detailed plan for the future of our country.

I voted Remain and I’m proud of that, but I don’t think we should have a re-run of the referendum. Once the politicians have stopped playing their games, the country has to be asked a more grown up question: should we remain in the EU or, should we leave and adopt the (to be determined) plan for Britain? A real decision. Reality versus reality.

Akshay Nair
London, SE13

I have been profoundly depressed since the vote to leave the EU last week. This is mainly due to both the lack of leadership by our politicians and, in many cases, their apparent desire to promote their self-interest above the welfare of their country. Michael Gove is a prime example.

I will not be personally affected by the decision to leave, but my grandchildren will suffer greatly. As a lifelong supporter of the Labour Party, but not a member, I am appalled at the lack of leadership of Jeremy Corbyn and have recently joined the party in the hope of voting him out.

In these difficult times we need leaders, not professional protesters. People with vision, a belief in public service and leadership qualities are needed. Where are they?

David Eames
Worcester Park, London

Both sides in the referendum accused the other of telling lies. The trouble for the Brexit camp is that most of the horrible “lies” told by the Remain campaign look as if they are coming true.

We know so little about what Brexit actuality means that it’s hard to know whether their “lies” are true or not. But would it not be a possible case for a legal challenge to the whole referendum? If it was based on lies, it should be ignored and perhaps re-run with the truth more universally acknowledged.

Gillian Perkins
Cambridge

I was reading with interest yesterday’s editorial about the imminent publication of the Chilcot report. “In short, Britain had been taken into a war on a false pretext and had fought it without a properly thought out exit strategy, or indeed the right equipment for the conflict that developed. Such a catastrophic series of misjudgements required proper consideration.”

It would seem that no matter which Government we have, they have form. This description so equally applies to the EU referendum. Such a shame actions seem to come before thinking and planning. I hope that we will all now begin to allow our leaders thinking time and not keep pressing for knee jerk reactions.

Joan Cooper
Leighton Buzzard

With the nation left in “unchartered waters”, the captain leaving the ship miles off his own original course, the Westminster politicians diversely described as assassin, treacherous, turn-coat, spineless, reckless, irresponsible, obstinate and worse, and the Europeans bent on dragging the country through a nasty divorce case, could the SNP be asked please to extend their mandate further southwards?

And while we are at it, also request the Football Association of Wales to do the same eastwards?

Hamid Elyassi
London, E14

According to Andy McSmith, James Schneider believes that “Jeremy Corbyn has shown incredible steel in staying there, on behalf of the principle of democracy in the party”. Where was this steel when it came to the Remain campaign?

Steven Williamson
Hyde

Boris Johnson is, after all, revealed as less of a Churchill, more of a General Boulanger.

Peter Millen
Huddersfield

What a sad state we are in! Euthanasia that I hoped to be permitted is still forbidden. Euthanasia that I hoped never to see is obligatory.

Christopher Pearce
Address withheld

Political sexism

I share Janet Street-Porter’s joy at women breaking through the glass ceiling in political life. Surely it is right that the best person for the job is able to lead regardless of their gender. However, can you imagine what would be said if a male columnist were to have written the sexist clap trap Janet came out with when describing men? Singling out a handful of men, such as Trump and Gove, while ignoring the many competent and talented male MPs seems unreasonable.

James Shepherd
Lincolnshire

In defence of Allardyce

I have to agree 100 per cent with Ian Herbert's piece on Sam Allardyce. He would build a strong disciplined defence. The midfield and striking players would then play with patience and invention knowing that one goal will probably be enough to win the game.

Paul Rimington
Address withheld