Should Northern Ireland minister be shamed?

I DON’T agree with the criticism being heaped on the Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley for her honest admission that when appointed she was lacking in any knowledge about voting habits in the province (Mail). Many of us in Northern Ireland would be in a similar position if asked about the functions of a parish council in England or the voting practices for devolved administrations in Scotland or Wales. It does amaze me, though, to find how ill briefed she was. It is understandable that most British people know little about Northern Ireland — and why should they? But I think it is time Northern Ireland should stop displaying its own ignorance about how things are run elsewhere. A little learning on both sides is required. M. J. DRAKE, Downpatrick, Co. Down. KAREN BRADLEY has admitted that she took the Northern Ireland brief knowing nothing of the political history and divisions of that much troubled province. Appointing a minister to such a potentially volatile post without her being equipped at least to debate on reasonably knowledgeable terms with the different factions says all you need to know about the shambolic Government. I blame the decline in standards of education, whereby natural ability was ignored by a one-size-fits-all comprehensive approach. And our membership of the EU has slowly but surely hollowed out our political ability in decision-making.

ANTHONY MARSH, Ipswich, Suffolk.