Mick Ferrie News Today

SIR – Peter Stanford is the latest columnist to describe the numerous woes of the Church of England (Features, March 31). Many readers will simply say to themselves: “What does it matter if the former leading religion in the country fades into oblivion?” A tour of the villages of England will provide an answer: in every part of the country, parish churches occupy a central position. Prior to the establishment of parish councils in 1894, the local church not only provided spi...

SIR – As I predicted, successful actors, musicians, sports stars and political party supporters have predominated among the upper echelons of the King’s New Year Honours. Elsewhere, less well-known members of the public, who have worked selflessly with no thought for their own benefit, will be restricted to lesser awards.

SIR – The new five-point plan to control immigration (“Migrant curbs to cut arrivals by quarter”, report, December 5) is all very well, but why wait until the spring to implement it?

Plus: standing with Israel; NHS gridlock; policing shoplifting; the right trousers; low-cost rail schemes; and Henry V's reputation

SIR – Vladimir Putin has lost his strut, and now looks anxious and hunted.

Plus: supermarket loyalty cards; soap stars; nuclear power; electric vehicles; and the rise of the super rats

Plus: Timeless Tupperware; junior doctors' strike; nuclear sabre-rattling; National Trust tearoom queues; and free vapes for smokers

Plus: overskilled NHS doctors; unrecognisable rugby; Brexit, sovereignty and democracy; and problems with probate

SIR – The lack of Covid testing for patients entering care homes, revealed in your Lockdown Files (report, March 1), is clearly the tip of the iceberg.

SIR – Rounds of applause, standing ovations, multiple handshakes and statements such as “Nothing is off the table”, spoken in the euphoria of the moment, do not win wars.