Uni ban is a curb on freedom

On the face of it, it seemed hearteningly civilised, as you reported last week, for an Oxford University student society to be banned as punishment for rudely no-platforming politician Amber Rudd at very short notice. Yet this is actually a regressive step. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Forbidding the society to exist, thus effectively no-platforming it, is no less closed-minded, and may be ineffectual as members could presumably regroup in a new guise.

A more apt measure might be obliging the group to stage the speech and outlawing any future censorship.

As for the society being directed to apologise for its shabby treatment of Ms Rudd, a mandatory apology is likely to be empty, stilted and hence of little worth. Any decent individual or organisation would have already done so unbidden.

F. Harvey, Bristol

Keeping up standards

Of course we want a good trade deal with the US and other countries after Brexit, but we should not compromise on the standards our farmers adhere to. Be it the wellbeing of the animal, the method of slaughter, how it’s washed and stored afterwards, or the carbon footprint in transportation, a lot of consideration needs to be given.

If an animal has met its death by means of which many of us would not approve, then should we allow it into the country? If we are going to be serious about how farm animals have been cared for, then everything needs to be known from birth to end.

Tony Thompson, Banbury

End of polite society

When I was growing up, I was taught to be polite and always say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. It therefore amazes me how few people use these simple words nowadays. Watching daytime quiz shows on TV, I cannot believe the number of contestants who ask for something without using those words.

When was it decided we no longer needed to be polite? Sandra Thompson,

Woodstock, Oxfordshire