Manchester is right to stand up for itself – but local leaders need to be careful

The mayor and MPs of Manchester are right to ask for substantial financial support for all businesses affected by a further lockdown or restrictions. 

However, Andy Burnham’s case is undermined by the refusal to accept further restrictions before financial support is in place. 

More lives could be lost while livelihoods are sorted out.

Bambos Charalambous 

Manchester

There is so much I and many others agree on in your letters and articles about the arrant disregard that the current government has for the vast majority of people in this country. 

Whether it is the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, Brexit negotiations (or lack of them), divisive treatment of north and south regions of the UK and of the other parts of the union, failure to take responsibility for breaches of regulations by influential members of policy making teams, failing to involve key area representatives and use local resources rather than expensive and ineffective private organisations or just unpredictable and unsettling flip-flopping of policy initiatives. 

This government is not governing in an effective and safe fashion that works in the best interests of the country it was elected to serve. In which case when can we get rid of it and perhaps have the coalition that your front page headline suggests: Rishi Sunak, Nicola Sturgeon and Keir Starmer, perhaps backed by a cabinet of regional leaders from all parties? 

Peter Cole 

Alnwick 

Fiona Coombes (letters) refers to the Dominic Cummings’ episode as likely to reduce compliance with lockdown. 

I believe the real damage was done by the people who tell us what to do (Matt Hancock, Michael Gove et al) prostituting themselves by touring the TV studios in the following days with ludicrous defence of his actions and claiming belief in his eye-testing explanation. 

Such damage to our compliance with the law is further affected by the willingness of the same people and our prime minister to break international law relating to the Brexit agreement.

Credibility might be largely restored by a reshuffle ousting Gove and Hancock, the sacking of Cummings and an apology from Boris Johnson. I can dream.

Alan Pack

Canterbury

David Barnett in his piece on the north of England, reminded me of a response by a south Londoner many years ago when I remarked that he thought that civilisation ended at Watford Gap.  

“Watford Gap”, he said, "that's miles away."

Joanna Pallister

Durham

Facebook and Twitter are facing questions about taking down references to a New York Post report about Joe Biden. The action of taking down information that is incorrect, might be incorrect or is offensive is understandable and sensible but why now?

There are still likely many Facebook pages that contain inaccurate information. Is it even possible for Facebook to take down all inaccurate pages – it's doubtful. Twitter has also stopped some items that it thinks are wrong but is it able to stop all? Again it's doubtful.

It seems that Donald Trump has sent out more than 50,000 tweets. If we removed any that were inaccurate, incorrect, impolite or incoherent, how many would be left?

Why can 't we just tell the truth?

Dennis Fitzgerald

Melbourne, Australia

From the world of rugby union:

Bristol Bears 32–19 Toulon 

Exeter Chiefs 31–27 Racing 92 

So, no chance of a Brexit deal now then!

Graham Jury

Hanham, Bristol