Anonymity for accused MPS, unlike Sir Cliff

SIR – MPS alleged to have cheated on their expenses will be given anonymity (report, July 18).

In the real world, stealing from one’s employer leads to automatic dismissal. Why should our elected representatives, paid from the public purse, feel they have a right to be treated differently? Paul Aspin

Borden, Kent

SIR – A guilty MP may get anonymity but a Cliff Richard not even arrested gets full television coverage. No wonder many people hold politicians in contempt. Bruce Nicholls

Walsall, Staffordshire

SIR – One thing I have not heard mentioned about the search of Sir Cliff Richard’s home by South Yorkshire Police is the grounds on which a magistrate was persuaded to issue the warrant. Among other things, the police must show that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is material on the premises which is likely to be of substantial value to the investigation of the offence.

Given that the offence was of a historic nature, it stretches credibility that those reasonable grounds existed.

The police might have wanted to search to see if they could find something (anything) to stand up the allegation, but it does not mean it was legal to do so. The common term is a fishing expedition.

It is perhaps no surprise that this particular force, which was under great pressure over Hillsborough and the Rotherham child grooming scandals, should be desperate for a public-relations coup, but it cannot be said to justify their conduct. Richard Lacey

Prenton, Wirral