The role of ‘minister for Brexit opportunities’ must be a joke

Boris Johnson’s newly appointed director of communications, Guto Harri, describes him as “not a complete clown”. But in creating the oxymoronic role of “minister for Brexit opportunities”, the PM must be having a bit of a joke, mustn’t he?

Susan Alexander

South Gloucestershire

So Jacob Rees-Mogg has been appointed minister for Brexit opportunities.

Shouldn’t his real title be “minister for pretending that there are some Brexit opportunities which may go some way towards offsetting the many downsides”?

Jack Liebeskind

Cheltenham

Is Boris Johnson setting up Jacob Rees-Mogg to be the fall guy for the failure of Brexit? Of course, Johnson bears no responsibility whatsoever!

Philip Mitchell

Winchester

I’m more than willing to accept that some of the criticism of Carrie Johnson oversteps the mark into the realms of sexism and misogyny, but here’s a thing – she, and others, say that she has had no role in government.

Fine, if she says so, but on the record (with photographic evidence) is a gathering in the garden at No 10 where she and the latest baby can be clearly seen, which, we are told, wasn’t a party or social gathering.

It wasn’t a party or social gathering, her husband and others tell us, because it was a work meeting. If she has no part in government, what was she doing at a No 10 work meeting?

I have no time for the sexism and misogyny that some might be using in the approach to this, but Ms Johnson can’t have it both ways, surely?

John Moughton

Manningtree, Essex

Ed Cummings gives the BBC’s This Is Going To Hurt five stars. Some people think that any subject is fair game for comedy.

At the risk of appearing curmudgeonly, I think making fun of people’ illnesses, suffering and often vulnerability is far from funny. I guess it’s an easy shot. And to be even more po-faced, it’s not very professional.

Dr Anthony Ingleton

Sheffield

I’ve just read a dozen reviews on the BBC’s new series This is Going to Hurt as well as The Independent’s five-star review. All seem to have the same consensus that the first episode gives an accurate and sympathetic view of the NHS.

Episode one showed a junior male doctor disbelieving a woman who repeatedly complained of feeling unwell, abusing and laughing at her when she was unconscious and later performing an ill-qualified caesarean on the same “hysterical woman” who’d he’d failed to check for preeclampsia, resulting in him nearly killing her and her baby whilst the consultant happily covers up his mistake.

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Fairly accurate on the NHS and doctors, I’d say. But sympathetic?

Eccy de Jonge

London

Meta shutting down Facebook and Instagram in Europe might be a very good idea. Personally, I hardly ever use Facebook as I do not find it of any interest whatsoever, like most social media.

I understand its appeal to the younger generation brought up in the internet age, but can anyone really explain its usefulness? Life existed before Facebook and I am sure people will get used to life after Facebook, which may even be a blessing for the health of the nation.

Peter Fieldman

Madrid, Spain