‘Blackface’ Poppins is innocent

I was lost for words when I read in last week’s Mail on Sunday how Dr Daniel Pollack-Pelzner suggested Julie Andrews’s performance in Mary Poppins is racist, accusing her of ‘blacking up’ when her face is covered in soot as she dances with chimney sweeps.

There’s nothing racist about Mary Poppins. David Courtney, Weston-super-Mare First Mary Poppins, then Gucci’s balaclava jumper, which was branded racist and withdrawn from sale because of the complaints. How pathetic Gucci gave in to the minority who have nothing better to offer society. The jumper is only racist in the minds of the accusers, which makes me wonder who the racists are. Name and address supplied

End this scandal of locking up kids

I’m appalled at your reports of children and young adults with behavioural and learning problems being locked away. One day they will tell their stories themselves. It sounds as if we are heading for a repeat of the recent scandals involving children’s homes. We must put an end to this now. S. Tadd, Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire

Israel out of tune

The Chief Rabbi has defended Israel’s right to host this year’s Eurovision Song Contest – which it is due to do because its act Netta Barzilai (below) won last year – after 50 public figures said human-rights violations meant it should be hosted elsewhere. Israel is not in Europe, so whether this year’s contest should be staged there ought to be irrelevant. Sir Bob Russell, Former Lib Dem MP, Colchester

No way Norway

Peter Hitchens suggests a ‘Norway’ deal is the best solution to the Brexit problem. No disrespect to the Norwegians, but Britain has more economic and political clout in the world than Norway, and our deal should reflect that. Sean Gallagher, Erdington, Birmingham

Teacher tied me up

One of your letter-writers recalled the kind of old-fashioned punishments that used to be handed out to children at schools. One of mine involved the teacher tying my ankles to the desk because they didn’t like me kneeling on my seat! Shirley Bradley, Benfleet, Essex

A land of snowflakes

A few days ago parts of the country went into panic mode because of some snow, with hundreds of schools closed. Why? I was at school in 1947 when it snowed somewhere in the UK every day for three months. My brothers and sisters and I never missed a day at school, and my father never missed a day at work. Has the country gone totally soft? John M. Kiddle, Grimsby