Our jester prime minister has tarnished the Tory Party

There are many thousands of loyal Conservative voters across the nation, who have had serious doubts about the suitability of Mr Johnson to be prime minister. The events of the last couple of days absolutely confirm their doubts.

If the Conservative Party had real guts, its MPs would rise up and select a new, disciplined leader with a moral compass who would steer the party back to its roots.

Michael Benson

York

I am heartened by the letters which deplore the behaviour of Owen Paterson and the response of Boris Johnson to it. I would like to think that this will lead to a groundswell of opinion from the electorate to rid politics of this climate of sleaze. But this is not the first time Mr Johnson has behaved appallingly, without denting his popularity in any significant way.

Unfortunately, I think sleaze is what the electorate has come to expect from our politicians and factor it into their voting decisions. Everyone, constituent or organisation, has a right to lobby an MP. If the MP finds the cause righteous then they should promote it, but only out of conviction.

Payment to an MP by a lobbyist is a bribe. I believe there is a law against offering a bribe to someone in public office and for a public servant to receive it. Let’s get rid of so-called consultancy fees and name the practice for what it is: a crime.

C C Elshaw

Hampshire

Vithushan Ehantharajah’s report on the racism problem within Yorkshire County cricket club has painfully reminded me of my own experience of being called a “p***” in the Midlands during the 1980s, and being chased and attacked.

I have not heard the word “p***” uttered in the Midlands in the last two decades, but I am aware of race riots in Oldham, Bradford, Leeds and Burnley in 2001. I wonder: is there a problem of integration, mutual respect and tolerance in the north of England?

Kartar Uppal

West Midlands

Article 16 was not triggered on Friday, but I suspect it will not be long before Johnson starts a hugely damaging row with the EU, designed to stir up his populist and xenophobic supporters and distract from the sleaze scandal.

If I am right, we all need to be on our guard to call this out. We should write to our MPs to try and force the prime minister into another early U-turn before more harm is done to the UK’s economy and international reputation.

Adrian Cosker

Hertfordshire

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We all agree that we are talking too much about climate change and not taking enough action. Even Greta herself is joining in with the “blah, blah, blah”.

Why aren’t newspapers and TV programmes covering the positive actions people and nations are taking? Where are the articles about the inventors working on new solutions – especially those looking for financial support or those who are already using alternative methods of heating – in industrial units and homes? Where is the letter page encouraging people to put forward ideas or offer support to those finding solutions?

The carrot usually works better than the stick. Why not apply it to this situation?

Dr Rosemary Westwell

Cambridgeshire