Will Sunak now say ‘no’ to the South?

From: ME Wright, Harrogate.

DESPITE being ‘thrown in at the deep end’ so far, Rishi Sunak’s record as Chancellor has been impressive (The Yorkshire Post, June 22).

So too is his ‘fantastic brand’ pronouncement on George Osborne’s much trumpeted and much delayed Northern Powerhouse.

He has spelled out the loneliness of a Chancellor’s job, including the need “to say no a lot”.

He will be aware that, in the North, we’ve been used to that for decades, whilst paying for an endless stream of affirmatives south of Watford.

He will also know that areas of the North, traditionally far less Tory than his Richmond constituency, were responsible for this government’s healthy majority.

Given the unprecedented financial problems facing the country, can he bring himself to restoring some balance by saying a more frequent, resounding “no” to London and the Home Counties?

From: Terence Hammond, Woolgreaves Drive, Sandal, Wakefield.

I MUST agree wholeheartedly with Peter Brown on his appraisal of “bluffer Boris”, as one being elevated above his ability because of the voting system (The Yorkshire Post, June 22).

In the present shambles, and obvious mendacity of the incumbent “crew”, it keeps me sane to recall the fine words of Sir Robin Day in his interview of Sir John Nott in 1982 over the Falklands: “Transient here today and if I may say so gone tomorrow politicians.”

How true it was then, and even more so now.

From: Brian H Sheridan, Lodge Moor, Sheffield.

IT is unfortunate that Peter Brown misquotes me in saying that I “think Boris Johnson is better than Donald Trump”, as we are largely in agreement.

In the immortal words of former football star Glenn Hoddle “I never said them things”. I will say now, however, that if I had to spend any time with either of them I would be more comfortable with Johnson, despite my state school education.

Incidentally, am I alone in sensing something amateurish about the pair compared with the likes of Tony Blair, Theresa May, Sir John Major, Barack Obama and George W Bush?

From: John Michael Frith, Cave Crescent, Castle Park, Cottingham.

ON the Andrew Marr Show,

Matt Hancock stated the Robert Jenrick didn’t know that he would be sitting at the same table as Richard Desmond.

Seeing that the occasion was a Conservative Party fundraising event at the Savoy Hotel, the party official in charge of the seating arrangements would have known that Mr Desmond is a property developer seeking planning permission and Mr Jenrick is a government minister with the authority to grant such a permission.

Were the seating arrangements simply a case of matching supply with demand?

From: Martin J. Phillips, Tinshill Lane, Leeds.

SO the Government is planning to reduce the minimum social distance space to one metre so that pubs and restaurants can re-open, with the proviso that customers wear a face mask. How are we supposed to eat or drink while wearing a face mask?