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Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.
Labour's going faster but is it in the wrong direction?
After Labour’s disastrous local election results last week – largely to the benefit of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK – Sir Keir Starmer says he is listening and that ‘we will go further and faster’.
Not encouraging for people who think the prime minister is going in the wrong direction…Chris, Stockport
Australia just showed the UK how to handle populism
A prime minister down in the polls but attempting to reverse years of decline with tough, unpopular measures, is challenged by a Trumpian populist and naturally fears the worst. The sensible electorate, however, aren’t conned by this plausible yet dangerous challenger as they vote to consign him to the political wilderness.
This is no British Labour pipe dream but a Labor reality in Australia, where the Nigel Farage-style candidate – Peter Dutton – was given the heave-ho rather than the incumbent PM, Anthony Albanese.
So much for the supposedly unsophisticated Aussies – no flies on them! Clive Alexander, Sheffield
Free speech shouldn’t come with death threats
Sharon (MetroTalk, Tue) defends Irish band Kneecap for their apparent comments on stage that, ‘The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.’
She goes on to say that Kemi Badenoch is hypocritical in calling for their arrest given her supposed support for free speech.
Would Sharon accept someone suggesting that all Sharons should be killed, simply because they are Sharons, or that Kneecap should be kneecapped? Les, Forest Hill
Why is one incendiary comment a crime and another a gig punchline?
Further to Sharon’s letter. If, as happened recently, it is right to imprison a woman with no previous convictions [Lucy Connolly] for making incendiary comments during the Southport riots, why is it not right to prosecute this band who have wide social media coverage for encouraging people to kill their local Tory MP? Jeremy Rayner, London
Why does the UK ignore May Day and workers’ rights
While I applaud the VE Day celebrations and had a grandad who fought in both wars, I find it wrong that these celebrations should have taken place on the fifth, which is May Day or International Workers’ Day – occasions which were consequently ignored.
There will be other VE ceremonies on the 8th (which should be a holiday, like it is in other countries), as well as Remembrance Day on November 11.
What shocks me just as much is that not only does this country not have a national day but that a friend who lives there told me they have an Australia Day and an Anzac Day and even get a holiday for our monarch’s birthday! Stingy UK is my conclusion! MC Orton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Bank holidays live up to their name for all the wrong reasons
In response to Russ (MetroTalk, Wed), they are called ‘bank holidays’ – despite most bank branches being closed – as you can ‘bank’ on the weather turning cold and grey. Gary, Bishop’s Stortford
What’s happened to proper English?
The English gerund is becoming an endangered species. ‘Be sure to take all your belongings with you.’ ‘This train will not be stopping.’ ‘Running on the escalator is not allowed.’ This annoying problem ranks on a par with ‘like’, which at times is, like, the only word you can, like, understand in a conversation.
Reassuringly, British Airways is one of the few institutions to rise above this trend. On a flight, you will never hear ‘If you are sitting…’ Instead, they use the more appropriate, ‘If you are sat…’ Hurrah for BA. Innit. Jules Stewart, via email
Square Root Day isn’t as rare as you think
Ron (MetroTalk, Wed) says the ‘Square Root Day’ on 5/5/25, was the only such date in a 20-year span. Surely 4/4/16, 3/3/09 and even 6/6/36 are also Square Root Days and less than 20 years from this year. Timothy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Further to the doctor jokes printed here of late. I went to the doctor last week. He said, ‘By Jove, I haven’t seen you for a good while.’ ‘No,’ I replied. ‘I haven’t been too well.’ Jim Finn, Liverpool
When your forgets you’re forgetful
I told the doctor I was getting increasingly forgetful. He told me to remind him in three months’ time that my next blood test was due. This is not a joke – it really happened! Jean Anderson, London
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