Balfour’s portrait

SIR – As Arthur Balfour’s nearest descendant, I was scandalised by the wanton vandalism of his portrait at Trinity College, Cambridge (“Propalestinian protester slashes portrait of Jewish homeland architect Lord Balfour”, report, March 9).

Two other factors have shocked me almost more. The first is the plain ignorance of the history of the Middle East among these extremists.

Secondly, the college said it was offering support to anyone affected – but shouldn’t the priority be to leave no stone unturned to find the perpetrators, who in cowardly fashion execute these acts and post them anonymously on social media?

In recent weeks many of your journalists have demanded that the authorities and leaders of institutions have a change of approach. Instead, they remain supine and woke. Like fish, the body politic rots from the head down. Who will rescue us?

The Earl of Balfour

London SW3

SIR – The Metropolitan Police say that a courageous counter-protester in London was not arrested because of the message on his banner – “Hamas is terrorist” – but for his own safety (report, March 10).

The truth is that he was at risk because of the message. That shows who controls our streets these days – namely those who are potentially violent, do not respect the right of others to speak freely, and in some cases support the proscribed terrorist organisation that engaged in the savagery of October 7. Although he has since been de-arrested, the counterprotester was manhandled by officers, thrown to the ground and handcuffed. Rather than pursuing those who exercise their right to oppose the protesters’ narrative, why don’t the police deal with those who are a threat to that freedom?

Derrick Gillingham

London SW1