Trump’s conviction will only make him more popular

Okay, so Trump been convicted.

Trump probably considers this a win-win for him (or at least he will when the sting of the conviction wears off). For him that should take about a week.

Trump and his minions – who don’t yet understand how inconsequential the conviction is – will now be enraged and will campaign harder, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump pulls way ahead in the polls and even wins.

Democrats are laughing today, but when Trump gets fined and given probation, they’ll discover that once again the Democrats have formed a circular firing squad.

On the other hand, I suspect that most thinking Republicans will be pleased when they hear the sentence, read about the next polls, and realise that the worst Trump will face would probably be house arrest in Mar-a-Lago for two weeks. With cheeseburgers. Truly a win for Trump. A big win.

Mike Barrett

Address supplied

There may be cause for rejoicing now that Keir Starmer’s shameful treatment of Diane Abbott has backfired. Perhaps enough voters who want rid of the Tories will support one of the smaller parties instead of Labour.

Can we hope for the hung parliament that is the only possibility of abolishing the undemocratic first-past-the-post voting system that the Conservative and Labour parties have foisted upon us for all these decades?

Susan Alexander

South Gloucestershire

I am not a fan of Diane Abbott, and I would not class myself as left-wing. However, I am sure that the affair has been overblown by those who have an axe to grind with her.

She apologised for the offence she caused. End off. Move on. Victimising her is an own goal.

John E Harrison

Chorley, Lancashire

Another good article by Chris Blackhurst regarding the water industry, highlighting new ideas in combating the archaic organisation of our water companies, and the treatment and supply of our water.

However, I disagree with one element of his argument: namely, the cost of nationalising water companies. Why would investor’s require recompense? Surely they have had more than enough return for their investment. They have also been party to polluting our ecosystem, rivers, lakes and coasts.

The investors and water company employees have stood by, taken their profits and huge salaries, while overseeing the quality of water diminish, untreated wastewater poured into the environment and very little future investment.

All of which leaves our water infrastructure leaking millions of litres of water – it has been suggested that the loss could be as much as 25 per cent. Worse still, there has been only one new reservoir built since the 1970s.

Mr Blackhurst’s great article is food for thought but recompense of investors should not be offered. For over 30 years, the water industry has played fast and loose with our water needs and environment, aided by government.

Labour, who will hopefully be the next to govern, have decided to try something new with our electrical power development – good idea. Why not do the same with the water supply and transport? With more progressive Labour thinking and Britain’s future needs in mind, the cost of living has a chance of reducing and our children’s needs could be met.

Keith Poole

Basingstoke