Fears grow of coup in Venezuela | Letters

We note the growing concern across Latin America that elements of the right wing within Venezuela have called again for the ousting of the elected president, Nicolás Maduro – including overt calls on the military to oust the president – before the constitutional end of his term (Editorial, 26 April). This follows the US decision to renew sanctions against Venezuela. With Donald Trump attacking Venezuela during his election campaign, there is great concern that he may step up intervention aimed at regime change. We call for respect for Venezuela’s national sovereignty and an end to such interventions.
John Pilger, Richard Gott, Andy de la Tour, Michael Mansfield QC, John Hendy QC, Judith Amanthis, Dr Julie Hearn, Dr Hazel Marsh, Professor Frank Land, Salma Yaqoob

• Re Boris Johnson’s mugwump comment (Letters, 28 April): I have the illustrated sheet music of Billy the Mugwump, bought and sung to me by my mother in about 1949. It goes: “Billy the Mugwump, full of glee, sat all day in a rhubarb tree. His mug was red and his wump was blue, and his little tail wagged ‘how do you do’.” Billy was colourful, kind and friendly.
Eryl Freestone
London

• David Cameron (Brexit vote ended a ‘poisoning’ of UK politics, 26 April) says: “It’s a bit like a divorce. You have to deal with the money and then access to the children afterwards.” That priority says it all about Conservative policies.
Dyllis Wolinski
Mossley, Tameside

• So I guess Nick Serota’s “surprise gift” isn’t quite such a surprise any more (Tate staff angry at appeal for Serota’s leaving gift, 28 April).
Anne Cowper
Swansea

• In response to Jean Holmes’ quandary (Letters, 28 April): my daughter’s parents in law and I have often fondly referred to each other as “outlaws”.
Howard Chester
Richmond, Surrey

• I call my grandchildren’s other granny my co-granny.
Cate Rowntree
London

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