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'I've walked in Surrey and not seen one black or brown face', says reader
I believe Tory MP Robert Jenrick is absolutely correct in saying that we need more integration in our society (MetroTalk, Thu).
The shadow justice secretary gave the example of Handsworth in Birmingham, where he said he saw ‘no white faces’ in one-and-a-half hours.
I’ve walked in Surrey for more than an hour-and-a-half and not seen one black or brown face – and certainly no poor faces. It’s as if the people living there were in some kind of gated community, trying their best not to integrate with the rest of British society. Seems downright un-British. So, yes please, let’s have more – and proper – integration. Jon Burden, London
Handsworth is an area where all ‘come together’, reader says
Perhaps the Tory toff should have visited the Simmer Down reggae and arts festival in Handsworth. He would have seen a community of black, white and mixed races from Handsworth, the Midlands and beyond come together, unlike the Tories, with their divisive rhetoric. Martin Hughes, Coventry
Reader says ‘if you think this is your country too, keep it tidy!’
Remember the slogan ‘Keep Britain tidy’? Come on, folks! If you think this is your country, too, then please love where you live and keep it tidy.
Don’t wait for visitors like Tory Robert Jenrick to comment on your messy area.
He said Handsworth was as close as he had seen to a ‘slum’ in this country and was there to do a video about litter.
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Of course you can keep your average house in your poorer neighbourhood tidy – even people in nearby wealthy Solihull have to constantly maintain their houses, gardens and neighbourhood. Mo, Near Handsworth, Birmingham
Is it a ‘fact’ that ‘a high percentage of UK citizens do not want people of colour as next-door neighbours’?
Regarding integration – I’d say a high percentage of UK citizens do not want people of colour as next-door neighbours. That’s a fact. Many move away as soon as a person of colour moves into the area of predominantly white people. D Johnson, Surrey
Reader says ‘Robert Jenrick made a valid point’
Once you get past the headline, Robert Jenrick made a valid point – Handsworth, being nine per cent white, isn’t integrated. Whether people want to admit it or not, it does lead to parallel lives. A couple of years ago, there were numerous articles about black people not going to the countryside because they felt not wanted and wouldn’t be welcomed because rural areas are predominantly white.
True integration needs a more equal mix of every colour and religion. Jane, Islington
Gary Neville’s comments are praised
Gary Neville should be commended for his thoughtful words regarding the terrorist attack at a synagogue in Manchester last week (Metro, Wed).
The ex-England and Manchester United footballer said the Union Jack was being used by ‘angry, middle-aged white men’ to divide the country.
The horrific antisemitic terrorist attack should be unconditionally condemned but it is also concerning how divided and fragmented the country is becoming.
This is due to far-right activists like Tommy Robinson and politicians such as Nigel Farage exploiting tragedies like this for their political agenda.
As Neville said, putting Union Jacks on lampposts is not patriotic but divisive, as a way of excluding different ethnic groups and religions from our country.
We should take pride in our country as being secular and multicultural – not bigoted and hate-filled country as the far-right want – and aim for the flag to be inclusive not exclusive. Mark Dawes, London
Reader says Neville was ‘describing what he saw’ in the mirror
Why are people criticising Gary Neville for his rant about angry, middle-aged white men dividing the country? He was just looking in the mirror and describing what he saw. Roger, Wolverhampton
Reader opposes claim that ‘Palestinians would have had peace’ if they had accepted Partition plan
In response to Sally’s comments that Palestinians would have had peace if they’d accepted the 1947 UN Partition Plan (MetroTalk, Wed).
Would she care to explain how or even why the Palestinians would want to coexist with a people whose government has stolen their homes, oppressed them, treated them worse than animals and is now carrying out genocide in full view of the world? Luke, London
Reader clarifies that those who are marching against genocide do not support Hamas
Bob Readman (MetroTalk, Wed) wrote, ‘It is absolutely shameful that the mobs who have been marching in support of Hamas for the past two years decided to stage more protests on the anniversary of the Palestinian group’s murderous attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.’
What is actually ‘absolutely shameful’ is Bob describing those people who are protesting in support of starving, innocent Palestinians as supporting Hamas! Nothing could be further from the truth! Ant, Manchester
Kemi Badenoch’s plans to scrap stamp duty are slammed
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s pledge at her party conference to scrap stamp duty (Metro, Thu) is naive.
It would deny the Treasury the much-needed funds to reduce the eye-watering national debt and further risk igniting a housing boom.
What is required is a sensible cut in the rate of stamp duty to restore the viability of acquiring a home or moving to another.
Then, the increased volume of transactions across the housing market would generate tax income equal to – if not in excess of – the current amount generated from the woefully deficient volume of house moves. Robert Hughes, London
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