McGuinness’s death sheds light on a little-known illness

I have just heard the news of Martin McGuinness’s death, and despite the varying views appearing in the media one aspect that has resonated with me has been the portrayal of the human side of his passing. He suffered with the rare degenerative disease that I also am being treated for since 2013, amyloidosis, which basically attacks all the vital organs of the body. It is incurable but is treated with chemotherapy and other drugs such as thalidomide which I have to take 21 days each month on top of kidney dialysis three days a week in the Ulster Hospital. Last week I sent a card to Martin McGuinness informing him that there were people in Bangor praying for him. I have no idea if the card, addressed to Stormont, would have got to him in time, but I hope it did. Amyloidosis is a difficult disease and there is little public awareness about it. Maybe one last legacy of Martin McGuinness will also be to help shed more attention on this debilitating and serious illness.

Colin Nevin Address supplied

Gathering Momentum

It’s a pity your commentators are more interested in Labour Party splits than in politics in action. At my last Momentum meeting – open to all with an interest in making things better for local people – there was informed debate about the problem of car traffic. Members had done their research on the streets with interviews and data on the volume of cars. The discussion clearly linked in to broader political issues. It was friendly, purposeful and a model of socialism in action. But the Labour party doesn’t want to know.

Nicola Grove Wiltshire

The hypocrisy of the SNP

The SNP complains that Theresa May did not give the devolved administrations advance warning of her intention to trigger Article 50 on 29 March. Actually, the Prime Minister told us all ages ago that she would do this in the second half of March. Anyone remember how much notice Sturgeon gave the Prime Minister of her intention to call for another Scottish independence referendum? Oh, that’s right: none. SNP hypocrisy knows no bounds.

Jill Stephenson Edinburgh

En vogue

In The Independent (News, yesterday), it was highlighted what Theresa May thought about being featured

in the April issue of American Vogue: “Theresa May has said she is not interested in being ‘popular’, while posing for superstar photographer Annie Leibovitz”. I’m just wondering how long the PM will be in vogue.

Robert D Dangoor London