Tory Rwanda rebels

SIR – The “Spartans” of the Tory Right, who are threatening to vote against the Rwanda Bill (report, January 14), need to consider the big picture and behave maturely.

They may be correct about the weaknesses of the Bill; the Prime Minister is aware of them, too. But small-boat crossings are not the sole – or even the most important – issue at the moment. A responsible government must review a given matter, the steps necessary to address it and the wider consequences of implementing them, and balance these against other matters. That is what Rishi Sunak and his Cabinet are doing, and they deserve the support of all their colleagues.

William Fleming

Frimley, Surrey

SIR – Frederick Forsyth (Letters, January 13) says our society is rotting from the head down – a claim with which few, surely, would disagree.

He suggests as a remedy the institution of a campaign dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, deriving from Downing Street, but suspects that such an initiative is unlikely.

For some time there has been evidence that the calibre of our MPS is mediocre. Many are too young, and misguided on matters such as net zero.

The governance of a country like Britain in the 21st century requires the very best – people who have established themselves in their communities and demonstrated leadership in their profession or trade. Getting such people into Parliament will require a change in the selection process, which too often favours those who simply say the right things.

If we want to stand tall in the world we cannot continue with a Parliament in which it is so hard to identify anyone whose ambitions for high office are not beyond their abilities. In addition, if we want the best, they will need to be paid appropriately.

David Taylor

Lymington, Hampshire