Fishy regime
You reported that the UK was considering legal action against France in the fishing dispute (News, last week). It seems Boris Johnson is a strong believer in international law and treaty agreements when it comes to fish — but not sausages.
Alistair Nicoll, Sheffield
Suit you, sir
Su Thomas of Savile Row Bespoke speaks of suits being handed down from father to son (Letters, last week). Yes, very sustainable ... but surely that’s the antithesis of made to measure?
Ian Metcalfe, Perth
Eye of the storm
I enjoyed James Coney’s article on interest rates but have to take issue with him over whether anyone saw the giant storm of 1987 coming (Money, last week). The lady who famously phoned Michael Fish at the BBC weather centre certainly did.
Brent Rimmington, Ramsgate, Kent
Pension schemer
Coney’s piece on home loans 30 years ago made interesting reading for me. Those of us who retired at that time are sitting very pretty indeed. I bought a private pension when interest rates were indeed 15 per cent and was advised to add a 5 per cent annual uplift to counter inflation. Oh, how my pension provider must now wish my days had been shorter on this Earth!
Clive Jacobs, Aldenham, Hertfordshire
Fertility facts
Laura Kennedy is right (“Kids? It’s none of your business”, Style, last week). Women in their early thirties do not need to be told to worry about having babies. What they do need are the facts. And the fact is, female fertility declines steeply after 35.
Stephanie Calman, London SE21
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Secrecy can kill, doctor
Dr Edward Tulloch says the current position on assisted dying protects vulnerable people from being manipulated (Letters, last week). The opposite is the case. Illegality means that any help for ill people who wish to end their lives has to be given furtively. This provides cover for anyone who wants to pressure a relative into choosing an early death. Legalisation would make this much more difficult, as assisted dying would have to be carried out by medical professionals with independent checks.
Richard Mountford, Hildenborough, Kent
Dying bill meets opposition
It is misleading to imply that Baroness Meacher’s Assisted Dying Bill was not opposed during the second reading debate (News, last week). In line with convention, there was not a division, but during the debate 66 peers spoke in favour of the bill, 62 spoke in opposition, and six more who could not attend asked to be quoted as opposing the bill. These numbers demonstrate clearly that there is significant resistance to any change in legislation.
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff; Lord Carlile of Berriew; Baroness Grey-Thompson; Lord Alton of Liverpool; Lord Hunt of Kings Heath; Lord Stirrup; Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick; Baroness Hollins; Earl of Dundee
The worst thing to do
Your article “Why do the modellers always seem to get Covid infection rate wrong?” (News, last week) reminded us that Neil Ferguson said it was “almost inevitable” that cases would soar to 100,000 a day after July’s “freedom day”. At the start of the pandemic, he also modelled a “reasonable worst case” of 510,000 deaths; 20 months on and the country has reported only one-third of that number. As Lord Sumption pointed out at the time, by definition a worst-case scenario is also an unlikely one. Hopefully our politicians have now realised this and will only bring in further restrictions this winter if the data dictates that they must.
Neil Salter, Whitby, North Yorkshire
A degree of commitment
Eoin Smith refers to his daughter’s geography degree as “part-time” based on her attending ten hours of lectures a week (Letters, last week). This implies that students only learn when in a lecture. Last time I looked, degrees require 1,200 hours of study time a year.
Professor David C Sanders Mortain-Bocage, France
Frying shame
David Baddiel’s ideal full English breakfast does not include fried bread (News Review, last week). This is a must-have. How could he leave it out?
Robin Alexander, London W1
