Is Sue Gray’s enforced departure as the prime minister’s chief of staff yet another depressing instance of a resolute and capable woman taking the blame for mistakes made by her male colleagues (Keir Starmer reshuffles top team after Sue Gray ousted, 6 October)?
Matthew Ryder
St Neots, Cambridgeshire
I have a simple solution to end all wars, not only in the Middle East but across the world. Put daily oestrogen into the water drunk by all the men in government. They’ll then begin to find talking preferable to attacking, and peace will follow. I’d welcome any suggestions as to how to implement this plan.
Shira Rüb
Lower Ashton, Devon
Lev Parikian doesn’t need to travel to the “urban sprawl” of posh Barnes to see a bittern (Country diary, 7 October). A short trip from almost anywhere in London on the Jubilee line, to the ecology park on Greenwich Peninsula, with its lakes and bird hides, will give anyone who cares to visit the delight of these birds – and many more.
Jane Lawson
London
I enjoyed your reflections on the Tory conference (‘The night of the living dead’: denial-fuelled Tory conference ends without direction, 3 October). You may have noticed that the day chosen by the party to announce its new leader is 2 November, the day of the dead.
Kenneth Wheatcroft
Cambridge
Is there a case for defunding former prime ministers – those who didn’t manage 50 days, say (Liz Truss urges conservatives to ‘defund state media’…, 5 October)?
Mark de Brunner
Burn Bridge, North Yorkshire
