NOW OVER TO YOU...

A shout out to Jennifer Aniston, Inside this week’s virtual postbag, on the Brexit backlash rumbles praise for Jamie Oliver and

THANK YOU, JEN

Jennifer Aniston’s speech about not having children felt like finally someone was fighting a corner for so many women. Hannah Betts agreed in Hallelujah! It’s the end of ‘Poor Jen’ (18 July). We should be valued for who we are in the now – single, married, dating, child-free… But as Hannah showed, women are still sadly criticised for not having a partner or kids. In my culture, it’s all about having a family and those who are childless are looked down on. I’m happily married and embracing what we have as a twosome. I once half-heartedly went to see a doctor about being infertile and she made me realise that maybe I don’t want kids – I was just trying to fifit in. Jen has highlighted that women without the above should be allowed to live their own lives and not be harangued for their choices, for being single or not a mum. Her speech gave me confifidence – my life is no one’s business. Manisa

BREXIT RAGES ON

I must counter the accusation of a bias against Brexit by reader Stephanie in Now over to you… (18 July). It’s the job of journalism to expose the truth, not reinforce the comfortable denial many Leave voters seem to be living in. If Stephanie knows of any non-xenophobic reasons for being pleased about Brexit, could she please say what they are? All the people I know who voted Leave for non-bigoted reasons (more money for public services, more concessions from the EU) saw those reasons evaporate within hours of the result, and regret it now. My sister and her husband live and work in Germany and we’re all outraged at how little information anyone cares to give about what will happen to them. We’re only grateful they’re not suffering the same kind of racist attacks as immigrant workers in this country. Brexit isn’t just some theoretical philosophy. It’s a real disaster affecting real people’s lives right now, and it’s time Leave voters faced the consequences of their actions. Siobhan

FOOD FOR LIFE

I enjoyed your Jamie Oliver interview, ‘When I look in the mirror, I don’t recognise what I see’ (18 July). He’s my all-time favourite chef – mainly because he revolutionised school dinners in 2005. Replacing poorquality meals with nutritious ones and thus improving the behaviour, attention span, and even reducing the frequency of asthma attacks in children as a result. It was encouraging to read that he’s just finished a nutrition degree and has incorporated this knowledge into his new book. As Jamie says, the connection between diet and disease is undeniable, underscoring the fact that school dinners – sometimes a child’s main meal of the day – should be well-balanced to better equip them for life. Monica

PUBLICITY SEEKERS

Reading Taylor and Calvin’s feud goes nuclear (25 July) made me wonder, how much publicity do these people need? When does Taylor have time to write songs? She seems busy making the night manager look like the day manager and hanging with her squad. But apparently she did have time, but Calvin didn’t acknowledge this. Confused? This is what you came for… Julie

USE YOUR VOICE

People shouting on social media is just as important as marches ( Don’t get me started on inactivism, 18 July). The issue is that we shout and rage because we feel impotent, and the issues we scream about are ignored by our politicians – whether in person or online. There’s so little accountability from our MPS in addressing and representing the issues flagged up by their constituents. People-powered activism, whether online or at marches, needs to not be ignored by those paid to represent us. There’s such a wellspring of people getting passionately involved in politics and the decisions that make a difference to everyone’s lives, but the Government is still pushing its own agenda, the interests of their powerful, wealthy voters and what the corporations want. It will only increase social inequality and the rift in our country. It’s the same talk Cameron talked – and we all know how the poor paid the price on that one. Claire