Theresa May, the only way you’ll secure a legacy is by saving us from no-deal Brexit

Dear Prime Minister,

You have had a tough couple of years.

As your time as prime minister draws to a close, you will be wondering about how your legacy will be perceived.

So-called legacy commitments (environment, mental health, etc) are of course very welcome, if a little late, and we are extremely grateful.

However, the big one, Brexit, could be your saviour.

I suggest that before you go you should make a statement in the house as follows:

"With immediate effect, I will be revoking Article 50. I will be making one last trip to Brussels to apologise for the disruption and fear that the misguided policy of withdrawing from the EU has caused.

“On my return, I will tour the UK to establish a genuine rapport with all peoples thereby helping to restore trust and belief in our hitherto great democracy."

You will probably want to add a few words of your own.

This should help at least to cast your departure in a more rational light. It will also ensure that you go down in history as the prime minister who saved the UK from itself.

Steve Edmondson
Haslingfield

Do we have MPs or dodgy sales reps?

It’s like the government has turned into hard-sell timeshare reps overnight, and are trying to sell you a holiday home that they say will be lovely, but you know you could never truly afford it.

Only now they’re saying you have to buy anyway because your late uncle expressed an interest in one, two generations ago, and the non-binding terms said they could change their minds about that.

They keep offering you drinks and small gifts while you talk, and explain that they look out for the wealthiest clients – making you feel very select for a moment.

Through the window, you can see that the beautiful holiday homes are nothing more than randomly placed, unfinished concrete slabs with a few wiry bits on a landfill site.

The sea view and beautiful beach they promised will anyway always be obscured from your future view by giant financial tower blocks already surrounding the site.

You feel very trapped. You don’t want to do this.

You have two options. Sign up or revoke.

What do you do?

Michael Cunliffe
Ilkley

Appealing to Britain’s dimwits

Neither Jeremy Hunt nor Boris Johnson is particularly stupid, but both have to appeal to people that are. Hence the stream of muddle-headed promises on Brexit and spending that comes pouring out as each tries to outdo the other in appealing to Tory party members.

Right now, they are not appealing to the country at large, but to an overwhelmingly white, male, affluent and elderly audience to whom logic and rational argument is secondary to their burning desire to leave Europe without a deal.

When you consider that most of these people are happy to see the breakup of the UK and the trashing of the economy to achieve this, then it’s hardly surprising each candidate becomes more and more extreme to appeal to this narrow electorate who will determine who will be our next prime minister.

Watching the Conservative leadership contest is how I, as an Arsenal supporter, feel watching Spurs play Liverpool. Unfortunately, in this case, a draw is not an option but whatever the outcome, it leaves an extremely bad taste.

Jack Liebeskind
Cheltenham

Hobbies and Boris Johnson

Jenny Eclair is quite right about the importance of hobbies, and the thing about hobbies is that it usually doesn't matter if you're not very good at them. It is the country's misfortune that, while Boris Johnson makes his money elsewhere, his hobby is politics.

Rachel Burrows
Twickenham

The case for anonymity

The administration of justice, in all its parts, ought not to be a public spectacle and it is central to the process that until a verdict is delivered, all are equal before the law. Making it a public spectacle actually makes it less efficient and just. This is not just about crimes with a sexual element.

Victims of crimes, of all categories, should be able to approach law enforcement organisations with complete confidence that a proper investigation will be promptly made. The accused ought not to fear being traduced until a conviction has occurred.

Where the possibility of an accused individual being a perpetrator of multiple crimes exists, that should be dealt with after the initial accusation is tested at trial and proven. Once a perpetrator is convicted and named any other victims would be emboldened to disclose their accusations.

The administration of justice would be improved by both the accuser and accused being anonymous until the case is entirely settled.

Steve Ford
Haydon Bridge