To uphold British values we first need to debate what they actually are

Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley say that if we do not allow refugees we are betraying our British values. More than 30 years ago while I was completing my social work qualification, our lecturer put to us what we saw were the values and culture of Britain. There was a hush as we considered this, eventually suggesting fair play, cricket, cucumber sandwiches and so on. The concept of values has been prevalent under David Cameron and is often rehashed under the current Conservative leadership. It was used as one of the underlying motives of why Brexit was a positive outcome.

The question of British culture and values is one, as my example would suggest, that is taken as a given, but even now, what does it really mean? How many people who cite these values can actually identify what they mean and is there a consensus in our society as to what they are? Unless we have a debate and gain some consensus as to what these values are, surely the concept of “British values” become meaningless.

N Smith
Sussex

President Trump is an amateur in the world of fake news compared with Russian broadcaster Sputnik, part of Putin's world outreach programme. Sadly it is not surprising that Sputnik has opened offices in Edinburgh.

Russian misinformation plus more extreme elements on the fringes of the SNP make a toxic mix and Putin would certainly regard the UK’s break-up as another notch on his headboard. All the more reason for the PM to improve our relations with Moscow. Perhaps they could then be persuaded to move Sputnik to, say, Manchester or London, where it might foment less division.

John Gemmell
Birmingham

When Theresa May was chair of the Conservative Party and in opposition, she warned that it was thought of as the nasty party, “unrepentant, and just plain unattractive”. Judging by this latest refugee decision, she no longer has concerns about Conservatives being considered nasty.

Is this because previously she was warning they would not be electable until the image was shed, and now they are in power it is possible to revert to their true beliefs?

Derek Thornhill
​Gloucester

The latest Ucas figures, revealing a sharp drop in EU students applying to UK universities, (Number of EU students applying to UK universities falls by 7 per cent since Brexit, latest figures reveal, 1 February) are the latest indicator that the UK’s decision to leave the European Union is already having an impact on the higher education sector, and given current visa restrictions, it’s a worrying time for UK universities.

Against this backdrop, it’s imperative that borderless education becomes the new norm. We cannot allow current restrictions and political decisions to blight the reputation and success of the UK higher education system. All over the world, technology enables communication to continue despite geographical barriers. Once upon a time, presenting a MOOC in the UK virtually to students in China would have seemed revolutionary – and now this is commonplace. If UK universities are to remain competitive, utilising technology to enable cross-border learning will be crucial.

As a minimum, all UK universities should be reviewing and building upon their existing Transnational Education (TNE) strategies: whether that’s identifying the countries that would benefit most from their expertise, or agreeing the balance of physical courses versus distance courses available.

We must urge all universities to experiment and explore the opportunities that available technology affords them.

Paul Feldman, Chief Executive of Jisc

Concerning recent letters about baby boomers, I don't think commentators who seem to cast blame on older people for the ills of younger generations realise how offensive many people find this. Letter writers have described their life experiences of work, of working pensions paid for and their commitment to the policies and the ethics of their day.

We, baby boomers grown old, created social revolution in the Sixties and Seventies, brought colour into life after the greyness of war and the drabness of the Fifties. And then, mostly, went to work and paid our taxes.

We want to see young people thrive. Please use your vigour, the inventiveness of youth, to change the world where it needs changing. And leave us be. We will be gone soon.

Terry Evans
London

If Reverend Dr John Cameron (Letters, 10 January) is correct in his statement that Trump’s “resolute action” in banning undesirable foreigners is supported by “most people in the West”, then I truly despair for what Western society has become.

Martin Heaton
Cheshire