Islington isn’t indifferent
Sir: I was shocked to read Mary Wakefield’s article accusing Islington’s middle classes of ‘extreme indifference’ to the death of our young people (1 August). As the local MP and a resident of N1, I can assure you that all these losses are deeply felt. It is provocative to suggest that there is a ‘strange apartheid’ in my constituency — and profoundly offensive to try to link this to the deaths of black and white youngsters.
I can assure you that both I and my constituents are deeply saddened by the deaths of any Islington lads, such as Alan Cartwright, Stefan Appleton, Joseph Burke-Monerville and Henry Hicks. We are particularly disgusted by a boy such as Henry being labelled a thug, on no evidence whatsoever. And I can assure you that Islington residents do support effective action to tackle knife and gun crime — whether the victim is black or white.
Emily Thornberry, MP
Islington South and Finsbury
Football’s ugly past
Sir: Mark Palmer (‘The ugly game’, 8 August) accurately diagnoses many of the ills in football, but his pessimism belies just how far we’ve come. The Chelsea racists in Paris were found and banned. A glance at Match of the Day reminds us how diverse (forgive the word) a typical Premiership crowd has become. Having confronted its demons, English football has thrived.
Across Europe, meanwhile, authorities struggle with crumbling infrastructure and hooliganism. Spain’s La Liga remains an interminable and over-politicised Real-Barca tussle. Germany’s Bundesliga has morphed into a Bayern Munich procession. Not without reason does the competitive Premiership attract a global audience.
And globally, while the award process was undoubtedly suspect, will there ever be anything more effective at shining a light into secretive and repressive societies as the arrival of the World Cup circus in Russia and Qatar?
Sanjoy Sen
Aberdeen
Cheer up, Meirion
Sir: A friendly word of advice to Meirion Thomas (‘The GPs’ revenge’, 8 August): he should stop moaning, write to his ‘90 patients’, and enjoy his retirement.
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in