Suella Braverman might be right, but has the wrong answers

Suella Braverman is correct in that a “hurricane of migrants” is coming. 

What she hasn’t considered however (surprisingly) is that tighter border controls will not stop people migrating when so many countries are now facing the catastrophic impacts of climate change. Rising sea levels are already affecting countries like Bangladesh and arid lands mean large parts of Africa are facing agricultural disasters. All while those thousands of people affected can see on social media that their lives are immeasurably poorer than those we enjoy in the UK.

Had she thought any such things through she might have argued against her government’s policies to slow efforts to combat climate change and to reduce International Development Aid that tries to alleviate the need to emigrate.

Roger Thomas

East Lothian

The broadening of pre-university education may be welcomed by some, as it is a benefit for those completing their formal education at that stage. Traditional A-levels have been criticised for being suitable for potential university entrants only and not benefitting the majority who instead choose to enter work.

Having said all that, what are the universities to do with students who will have much less information as they enter a degree course? Establish an introductory course which extends the degree to four years? Students would not accept the extra cost and accepting that the degree may be of lesser value overall is something the universities and wider industry would not accept either!

Robert Murray

Nottingham

John Rentoul rightly exposes the Tory party’s attempt to leave problems for the next Labour government. However, I would prefer for Keir Starmer to concentrate on giving back hope and possibilities of living a better, happier life under a competent, honest Labour government. Britain has been governed by charlatans and carpetbaggers only out for themselves and friends. Their financial shenanigans, lies and deceitful antics have stripped Britain of any semblance of order, honesty and ability. Their 13-year stint in government has left us financially embarrassed with debts that will take a generation to repay.

It will take years to repair the damage the Tories have inflicted on us. But do they care, or indeed understand? No of course not! No one is taking responsibility for their incompetence, and they have the audacity to want acclamation for the calamitous state of our nation. It’s a shame that Sunak, seemingly a decent man, is trying to recover lost ground in time for the general election next year.

It won’t work, the damage was done long ago.

Keith Poole

Basingstoke

Nigel Farage appears to be returning to the Conservative party, with such speed that one wonders if the strategy was already in place. Endorsements from Tory MPs and other party functionaries are noteworthy. Likewise, non-Tories.

His interviews are only really ruling it out if the Tories do not change. This is simply addressed; nearer the time he will promise to personally implement the final needed changes. After all, they’ve changed hugely since 2016, worryingly unnoticed by many of the electorate.

As it stands, Farage’s biggest obstacle is timing. He cannot succeed if the Tories are not wiped out, but if he waits too long, he could be usurped. I fear the Tories are now too divided and desperate to put up much of a fight. Next year we must watch out for some big names supporting him. If so, it’s game over.

Robert Boston

Kent

The recent electoral successes of Trump and Johnson – among others – has taught those hungry for power to indulge in gesture politics that seem to provide the electorate with simple answers to complex problems.

Such politicians secure their base by making the populace feel threatened and unsafe through amplifying the problems that exist; be they the threat of a “migrant invasion”, the loss of national “sovereignty” to other nations, the erosion of values by “woke” attitudes or the removal of individual freedom through “green” action on climate change.

Once they have mobilised the people’s anxiety, they are in a position to weaponise the issues by blaming those who oppose them for causing the problems and then providing simple, slogan-driven answers that will “Get Brexit Done”, “Stop the Boats” or “Make America Great Again”. Although these shallow tactics fail to address the issues or solve problems, politicians of the right know that they are a sure but ignoble way of winning votes.

In the run-up to the next election, the Tories are mobilising themselves already along these lines. Although they may lose in the next year, there is a danger that they will have sharpened these tactics, welcomed the likes of Nigel Farage back into the fold and be ready to return.

Unless the parties in opposition can present a clear and simple case for the values-driven politics that the nation so desperately needs, an autocratic and right-wing Tory party will be emboldened to continue to con the electorate and ensure that their hold on power can continue in order to serve the wealthy while keeping the vulnerable onside by offering vacuous assurances that they have their interests and safety at heart.

Graham Powell

Cirencester