We need to stop discriminating against low-skilled workers

I am increasingly concerned at an apparent anomaly. Quite correctly we have measures in place prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of disability, race, religion, gender, gender orientation, age and similar matters. I feel that the issue of Brexit is perhaps encouraging negative feelings towards citizens of other countries.

Now, there is a debate over immigration and the necessity of a numerical cap on low-skilled workers from EU countries. I really feel uncomfortable with this means of selection, as it discriminates against worthy people who, through no fault of their own, are less able.

Possibly, future selection of individuals may be on the grounds of their height, or the size of their feet?

John McLorinan
Somerset

Many people are expressing surprise at the news that the Brexit plans are in disarray; it will be news to many that there are any plans.

Matt Minshall
Norfolk

The Cayman Islands are not in the path of Hurricane Irma, so the “magic money trees” there won’t be uprooted. British Virgin Islands, including Necker, are in Irma’s path, so I look forward to seeing footage of currency notes blowing in the breeze, and hope a lot of them will be caught in Haiti, Cuba and other more honourable islands.

Robin Le Mare
Cumbria

While I’m sympathetic to the recent criticisms of the television personality Jacob Rees-Mogg, I’m surprised that anyone is surprised by his uncharitable views on abortion and on gay marriage. He is, after all, just a follower.

Surely any criticism of his outlandish beliefs should be directed not at him and his funny little ways, but at the Roman Catholic Church that he follows so unthinkingly and that preaches such twaddle? Other religions are available, but are not likely to be much better.

Beryl Wall
London W4

We are currently attending the BBC Proms. Instead of a smooth ride, our bus from Royal Albert Hall to SE1 is forced to negotiate its bone-shattering traverse over speed humps along Black Prince Rd in Vauxhall.

Standing passengers, more if unsteady elderly or children too short to grip hand holds, risk toppling over as they lose their footing with the bus lurching back and forth repeatedly. Stop-starts exacted by humps emit frequent cough-inducing sputters of exhaust every few metres.

Furthermore, the screech from a motor vehicle powering up to summit each hump from a slow stop, followed by the whine of cautious braking as the vehicle crawls forward towards the level on the other side, inflicts perpetually noisy assaults upon residents who live along streets hosting these nuisances.

The cacophony of billowing fumes and the abruptly disturbing auditory trio of power-up, slow-summiting and brakes floored to a friction-grind induces high stress levels.

This fume-fuelled tirade of a rattling bus battling the concrete waves of humps ahead is sure to unsettle the calm of Empire, conferred when Brittania Ruled the Waves more than a century ago. The journey strongly reminds me of the United Kingdom’s unsettling risk-laden and noisily-debated tortuous path into a post-Brexit divorce.

Joseph Ting
London

You quote David Davis as saying “We want to attract the brightest minds to the UK…” and it’s not the first time that similar remarks have been made about the “brightest and the best”.

One of the things about bright people is that they read a lot, and are up to date on current affairs. They will be well aware of the unhealthy obsession the Tories have with immigration, as well as the increasing hostility shown to outsiders in Britain – both by officialdom and some elements of the population, including the right-wing press.

Davis and his ministerial chums are likely to find that another of the things about the brightest and the best is that they tend to have many opportunities and offers. They are increasingly less likely to choose the inwardly-looking “global Britain”.

Richard Francis
France