It’s no surprise that violent crime is on the rise – there is no leadership in this country

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So – violent crime is up by 19 per cent over half a decade. There are the usual causes.

Policing budgets were slashed. The decision was made because violent crime had fallen and stabilised. Instead of seeing this as a proof of effectiveness it was seized on by the Tories as a chance to cut more public services. Those of us who have seen the see-saw effect on crime and social disorder over the last half century in the UK will add that crime also rises when other youth and social support services are cut.

The Tories say it will take time to fix this problem but they have found a few million to help us back to square one. Oddly, when they needed a billion to stay in power, the Tories found funds at warp speed.

Also, we have to remember that no one has actually been running the country since 23 June 2016.

So far, so obvious.

However, I would suggest another contributing factor.

When I was at school, one thing that was sure to lead to disruption in any classroom was if the pupils got a whiff of an incompetent or stupid teacher.

I believe Britain is suffocating on the very strong stench of a stupid, incompetent, uncaring, self-interested and disastrous administration.

Amanda Baker
Edinburgh

A hard border in Ireland would be no surprise – but should be avoided

The news that the EU requires a hard Irish border is surely no surprise as movement within the EU is basically unrestricted but not outgoing movement.

It’s not that a border will actually stop much. Borders have failed from the time of the Great Wall of China as guards can be easily bribed. This is a lesson that President Trump has yet to understand.

When I last travelled from the North of Ireland to the South I saw no real “border” and the only indicator was a couple of soldiers with big guns who stopped us and asked to see our passports. This was a lot less hassle than most border crossings but I fear a revisit will not be the same.

What seems to be missing is an understanding of what people voted for and the consequences. There is no use arguing over what must happen, a real border, and it’s time to get organised so that there is not more chaos.

Dennis Fitzgerald
Melbourne, Australia

Humans thrive from hope, not apathy

I’m not sure I entirely agree with Alan Richard’s prediction that apathy and disillusion will rule as a reaction to the last two years of dire politics (Mob culture could be the least of our worries after Brexit, Letters). Of disillusion there will be plenty for a while, but the human condition thrives on hope. Rather than apathy, I envisage a surge in interest in radical new populist parties of both left and right emerging, and one or other eventually reigning supreme over the ashes of Labour and Conservatives. I just hope it’s not the one with Nigel Farage at the helm.

Patrick Cosgrove
Shropshire

Who would replace Theresa May?

May I compliment Alex Orr for his, as always, excellent letter (May should have resigned long ago – we deserve better, Letters).

I am confident the majority of your readers will agree with his view, but the real challenge is to be had from that simple question: who would replace her?

For this reason, for me, I shall remain for the moment extremely glad that she has not stepped aside. The prospect of “who next” is just too frightening.

David Curran
Feltham

MPs are incapable of fulfilling their job descriptions

As MPs are clearly empirically unfit and/or incapable of fulfilling the Brexit referendum result, they show themselves to be “unfit for purpose”! If they were employees of a commercial organisation they would be dismissed as not meeting their job remit – after all they have had two years. It might have been supposed that the “democratic” voter process would/will dismiss unfit MPs, but, clearly the Brexit process has finally shown the democratic process to be a nonsense.

No short term solution – but ideally the UK population solution could be to boycott all future government votes – zero tolerance. Radical? Perhaps. But no more so than entrusting our futures to MPs and a parliamentary model that supports inadequacy and poor performance – all paid for by taxpayers!

Gilles Vincent
Crosby

Consumers will not forget Dyson’s move to Singapore in a hurry

James Dyson may well believe the combination of his avid support for Brexit and his decision now, mere weeks before it becomes a reality, does not constitute hypocrisy. Unfortunately for him, the majority of his fellow citizens will not undertake a rigorous analysis of whether this is hypocritical. In business, it doesn't matter what is factually or logically correct. Perception is key. And the stain of the widespread perception of this move as being a cynical and hypocritical move to a low tax, low regulation country will be nigh on impossible to wash off.

Martin Hollywood
Luxembourg