How dangerous is Lee Anderson’s defection to Reform UK for the Tories? (Picture: Henry Nicholls / AFP via Getty)
The Tories fear more defections after Lee Anderson quit the party for Reform UK. Could it cost them the next general election?
In today’s MetroTalk, a reader has written in to say, you reap what you sow.
Meanwhile, readers are sharing their thoughts on the housing crisis, the right to protest the Israel-Hamas war and the controversy surrounding Duchess Kate Middleton’s photoshopped mother’s day photo.
Share what you think about these topics in the comments.
‘It serves you right.’
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To those Conservative MPs now nervous of the Reform Party – whose ranks have been swelled by former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson – it serves you right.
You increased the fear of racism to deflect from the main problems this country faces.
Now you’re turning perfectly peaceful peace marches into something that terrify people around the country.
Shame on you. Mick, West Midlands
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Guy’s cartoon (Metro, Mon) about anti-war demonstrations was absolutely spot-on. It showed one man in a suit saying ‘Bloody extremists’ to another as they walked past a woman holding a placard saying ‘Please stop killing people’.
The recent pro-Palestinian marches have been overwhelmingly peaceful and attended by a huge range of people of every age, ethnicity, religion and class.
The vast majority condemn Hamas but want an end to the appalling suffering and loss of life in Gaza.
The politicians who brand these ordinary folk as extremist are indulging in dangerous political opportunism.
Some are trying to muddle the issues so as to harness anti-immigration sentiment and gain votes; others simply want to limit our democratic right to protest. Teresa, Bromley
Tens of thousands of people marched through London calling for Gaza ceasefire on Saturday (Credits: In Pictures via Getty Images)
Kate Taylor (MetroTalk, Tue) objects to those on these endless marches being labelled ‘extremists’ and ‘haters’.
Admittedly, the former is subjective and can now encompass views that were considered mainstream a generation ago.
Yet it certainly seems that those marching hate anyone who disagrees with them. When someone holds up the Israeli flag or a sign saying ‘Hamas is terrorist’, the police have to intervene to take them out of harm’s way while those chanting in support of terrorist groups get a free pass. Rupert Fast, Esher
Can the UK tell two governments how to behave?
Can any of the pro-Palestinian marchers explain what impact it will have if our government tells two other governments to behave?
Hamas has its agenda and started all this. Israel wants its revenge and is continuing this.
Middle-class people marching in London are not going to stop either of them.
If you want change, can I suggest getting on a plane and protesting in Tel Aviv. Dave, London
Is time for Ukraine to end the conflict with Russia? (Picture: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)
Pope Francis was right to call for Ukraine to end this conflict with Russia (Metro, Mon).
Russia has achieved what it set out to do, in what it describes as ‘liberating’ the Russian-speaking areas in Donbas etc.
I’m afraid that no matter how many more arms are poured into Ukraine’s arsenal, they won’t shift Vladimir Putin.
It was reported that then prime minister Boris Johnson went to Kyiv two years ago to urge president Volodymyr Zelensky to cancel arranged peace talks. [Claims Mr Johnson describes as ‘nonsense’ and ‘Russian propaganda’.] Since then, the carnage on both sides has been horrific. It’s time to save lives and end the fighting. James Byrnes, Altrincham
Readers share their thoughts on the housing crisis
Is it only a matter of time before this generation snaps? (Credits: Getty Images)
Further to your coverage of this country’s housing crisis (MetroTalk, Tue).
Housing, along with zero-hours contracts and the minimum wage becoming not a minimum but the default, is creating a tsunami of dissatisfaction among our young people.
If these problems are not addressed, there will be riots on our streets and the rich and middle classes will be quaking in their £2million Islington homes.
Affordable housing should be a human right in the UK, yet my two sons, both in their 20s, have no chance of a home.
We need to end the ability of foreigners to acquire property they don’t live in and just use for investment purposes.
Second homes should be charged at four times the council tax to protect local communities and free-up precious homes.
We need a two-million house building programme (especially studio flats) along railway embankments and other brownfield sites. And immigration should be curtailed except where vital, to keep our population at 70million or below. Robin Wills, London
Simon (MetroTalk, Tue) says social housing tenants should be assessed every year to see whether they can afford full market rates and give up their cheaper rents if they can. That’s fantasy land!
It took my wife and I five years of private renting to get a social housing property, which we’ve been in for 25 years.
When we do move out, it will be to a smaller social housing property or in a coffin. Then the housing can have the house back (and in a better condition).
By the way, my children who have moved out, have bought their own places – something we were never able to afford. Andy, Liverpool
‘Kate’s Photoshopped family photograph is hardly crime of the century, so leave her be’
What do you think about Kate’s photoshop-gate? (Picture: AFP / Reuters)
The Princess of Wales has apologised for editing a family photo released to the press for Mother’s Day (Metro, Tue). Clothing and parts of the background were out of sync.
Had she released a photograph that had been changed from colour to black and white, it would also have been an edited image and a less authentic portrayal but no one would be in a lather about it. Robert Hughes, London
All of these self-important critics going on about Kate’s Mother’s Day photograph ought to get out more.
By all means point out that it was doctored but suggesting Kate was ‘lying’ is a bit of a stretch. Whatever is the harm in her altering a bit of hair and clothing here and there if she wants to? Merry S, Hampton
Is it any wonder they felt they needed to release a photo on Mother’s Day? The speculation and, quite frankly, ridiculous level of discussion during her recuperation from abdominal surgery has gone too far. Just leave them be. When she’s ready and able, she’ll be back in public. Catherine, Kent
The only reason Kensington Palace will not release the original unedited one is that none such exists. The photo issued was simply an amalgam of pre-existing ones, Photoshopped into one, to deceive the world. Can we ever trust a royal photo again? Andy N, London
So now the Pandora’s box of photo editing is with us there will be no way of putting the genie back in the bottle. I don’t, however, understand the fuss.It’s hardly crime of the century stuff compared to some previous incidents involving the Royal Family. Dec, Essex
MORE : New details emerge about Kate Middleton’s edited family photo
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