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Reader opposes Government allowing take-off of Gatwick's new runway
Will Podmore (MetroTalk, Wed) says it is ‘very good news’ the government has approved a £2.2billion plan to build a second runway at Gatwick airport.
Is he a climate change denier or just not bothered with the fate of future generations?
Greenhouse gases from increased aviation of any kind realistically available in the next decade will sooner or later wipe out any short-term benefits.
If funds are available for big projects, let them be for projects that benefit the environment.
To stay on the transport theme, how about electrifying railways, reopening closed ones and adding new stations? These would provide jobs and open up new tourist opportunities in Britain.
The Scottish government has done sterling (and, indeed, Stirling – which was among the stations to get electric trains) service is this field.
Westminster would do well to follow its example. Charles EL Gilman, Mitcham
Reader questions how Metro writer’s partner feels after article
Having read Lara Rodwell’s article (Metro) about missing the ‘thrill’ of dating but stressing that the relationship with her partner isn’t in trouble, I wonder how he feels. Sara, Cheltenham
Khan had a point
I am no fan of London mayor Sadiq Khan but he has a point when jokingly saying that Donald Trump has him living rent-free in the president’s head (Metro, Thu).
It follows a long list of attacks on Khan by Trump over the years, the most recent one taking place at the United Nations on Tuesday. There, Trump claimed falsely that the ‘terrible, terrible’ London mayor was instituting Sharia law in the capital.
I think Khan is ‘living rent-free’ in Trump’s head because he is the only high-profile politician to speak up against the president.
Even Nigel Farage has refused to condemn the latest debacle in which Trump suggested that paracetamol is a potential cause of autism.
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Given all this, if he stands as mayor again, I may well vote for Khan. Andrew Edwards, Islington
Reader says Trump has gone ‘right off the scale’ with paracetamol claims
He has always courted conspiracy theorists, anti-vaxxers and the easily led, but with his outlandish claim that paracetamol is a potential cause of autism, Trump appears to have gone right off the scale.
No doubt his credulous fanbase will remain loyal but the time has surely come for the enlightened world to take a stand and full-throatedly contradict his outrageous claims.
Of course, some might say his style of leadership has a vested interest in people not thinking clearly.
As Obi-Wan Kenobi said in Star Wars, ‘Who is the more foolish: the fool or the fool who follows him?’ Julian Self, Wolverton
More on Trump’s UN ramblings
Cambodia and Armenia are not at war, have never been at war, and hopefully never will be – despite Trump’s claim this week that he stopped their war.
Is it just a matter of a poor knowledge of geography or something worse?
There are many, mostly older, people whose minds are starting to fail them. With care and family support, they can live out the rest of their lives as well as possible but the problem must be recognised.
An unsound leader could cause untold damage. We all hope this never happens. Dennis Fitzgerald, by email
Farage and Trump are ‘best pals’, says reader
It came as no surprise to learn that the most divisive figure in British politics, Nigel Farage, is mimicking his best pal, Trump, and demonising immigrants – this time accusing them of eating swans.
Remember, Trump made the unfounded allegation that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating pets. Bob Readman, Sevenoaks
Reader questions validity of supposed ‘migrants eating swans’
Why are people angry at migrants supposedly eating swans? We already inflict violence and death on farm animals, fish, laboratory and game animals, to name but a few.
We also horrendously and continuously exploit dairy cows and egg-laying hens until they become economically inefficient, at which point we turn them into meat. Mark Richards, Brighton
Does Ed Davey have any policies?
Molly from Sheffield (MetroTalk, Wed) is quite correct about Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey.
The reason he didn’t seem to talk about any policies at his party’s conference is because he hasn’t got any.
Davey is typical of most politicians these days, who seem to spend all their time criticising everyone else instead of giving us their own ideas.
I’m afraid I can’t take the man seriously. Every time someone mentions his name, I hear the theme tune to the BBC TV series It’s A Knockout in my head and expect to see Davey wearing an inflatable giant’s costume, heading for the nearest conveyor belt or moat. Dec, Essex
In Craig Munro we trust
What a brilliant write-up by Craig Munro about the Liberal Democrat conference (Metro, Wed). I was having a really bad day until I read it. Thanks, Craig. Laurence Smith, Oldham
Is flying the Union Jack upside down a sign of ignorance? This reader doesn’t think so
Graham of Doncaster (MetroTalk, Wed) displays his ignorance while urging ‘patriots’ to ‘please learn how to fly the Union Flag the right way up’.
Being flown upside down is a perfectly good use of the flag to indicate the belief of the flyer that the nation is in danger.
It is a holdover from the maritime tradition of indicating distress and requesting aid. Tired Of Everyone, by text
This reader does think so
A round of applause for Graham, who is on the same wavelength as myself.
I visited Chester recently and none of their flags were upside down, unlike the ones I see across Birmingham and West Bromwich. N Marsh, Birmingham
Reader enjoyed Metro’s footy feature, but…
I enjoyed the feature on goalscoring celebrations (Metro, Thu) but was surprised to see no mention of the iconic Micky Channon windmill.
Growing up in Southampton in the 1970s, there wasn’t a playing park in the city – or across the country – that didn’t have joyful kids wheeling away in homage to the Saints and England striker’s trademark arm-wave.
It wasn’t just handshakes back in the days before the Premier League! Mike Dunford, Brighton
Reader says pedestrianised high streets are better than when roads are are ‘clogged with traffic’
Sue Allen (MetroTalk, Wed) urges Sadiq Khan to scrap his ‘ridiculous plan’ to pedestrianise Oxford Street.
I can think of three towns and cities in Essex where the high streets have been pedestrianised – namely Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea and Braintree.
Most people agree that these high streets are better now than when clogged with traffic.
Why should Oxford Street be any different? Roger Smith, Witham
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.