Why stop with imperial measurements? Bring back old money too

There is no need for legislation to bring back imperial weights – they have been allowed by EU regulations since the international system of units (SI) came in (but kg and g needed to be used as well, and imperial weights could not dominate).

It’s just another non-benefit Brexit benefit, like the iconic blue passports that the UK could have enjoyed while also enjoying full EU membership, and all the benefits which that brought, just as Croatia does.

What would be a much more symbolic gesture for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which would in fact require new legislation, is a return to the old money. Why are we not bringing back the crowns and half-crowns (and all the rest) as a spectacular show of solidarity with Her Majesty in the 70th year of her reign?

Katharine Powell

Cheshire

Bringing back imperial measures does not make Boris an emperor. Far from making me remain a monarchist as we “celebrate” this jubilee, it has exposed the ineffectiveness of our system of checks and balances.

Now with gerrymandering of an official investigation into the executive by the executive, “checks” can be seen for the nonsense that they are.

We have a third-rate civil service. It is deeply flawed and not the independent and efficient implementer of policy it purports to be. A report by one of their number into No 10 was always going to have limited value.

More importantly, neither will they pass muster in a new isolated or “independent” UK. The 90k reduction is long overdue but should start at the top.

The rot runs much, much deeper. We watch probable fraud in public contracts, ineffective and expensive public enquiries and consultations that redefine the term worthless – all to the same end of embedding a plutocracy that steadily unwinds our democracy and freedoms.

Boris Johnson has eroded accountability, made access to law near-impossible for many, eroded a welfare state and safety nets we took for granted, gerrymandered electoral funding, set in motion the fragmentation of our state, presided over the worst comparative economic performance possible, and normalised lying and corruption.

Worse, such poor behaviour and performance has become embedded in public services and private companies alike.

I belong to no political party, but if Conservative MPs, largely irrelevant normally, don’t use the one power that they have, this is an act of national sabotage by omission. Shame on them. History will judge them badly, and so it should.

Andrew Snowdon

Great Yarmouth

I find it increasingly hard to be optimistic about anything in politics, but I am still supremely confident that no government would dare to change the ministerial code of conduct rules retroactively for fear of appearing to be unacceptably corrupt.

It is, surely, absolutely apparent that any possible breach of the code which occurred before the introduction of the revised code should be assessed against the requirements in force at the time of the possible breach.

Do I worry too much?

Tony Baker

Thirsk

Uncomfortable though it may be, it is a phenomenon that has been researched and appears to be true. The beautiful people have it easier. They get away with more, rise more quickly and earn more than ordinary folk.

To keep up to speed with all the latest opinions and comment, sign up to our free weekly Voices Dispatches newsletter by clicking here

Others have to be hard-working or ingenious, original and forward-thinking; some have to be extremely bright or gifted or sharp-witted. “Good communication skills” are the bottom line for almost any job. Other admirable qualities used to include integrity, honour, bravery, loyalty and moral backbone.

The vile Boris Johnson, at the top of the UK political pile, has absolutely none of the qualities listed above. And as he is forever going cap in hand to rich people to pay his way in the world, one has to assume that – at least by the standards of his elite friends – he is, relatively speaking, grubbing along the fiscal gutter.

Surely this means that it is privilege, privilege and privilege, dear boy. That alone. That is the key to ultimate success in the UK. Simply be born into the right set and you are set.

So the recent whining of Tory MPs that the poor just need to work harder is not only insulting, it is palpably untrue. It certainly isn’t hard work that got our PM where he is today.

Amanda Baker

Edinburgh