Brief encounter

Last week’s News Review stated that I cleared my name of shoplifting charges in 1990 “with some help from the late George Carman”. I was in fact represented by Stephen Solley QC. My acquittal was down to my innocence, and not Carman’s famously er . . . colourful courtroom style. Richard Madeley London

Rank injustice So there is talk of a large pay-off and even a peerage for Sir Ian Blair (Focus, last week). Yet another example of one of the few things we are very good at – rewarding failure. Peter Walton Lincoln

Slippery when wet Water meters do encourage economy in water usage (News, last week ) and would do so even more if the bill was based on actual consumption and not inflated by standing charges of up to 22%. Anthony Roberts Shoreham-by-Sea West Sussex

Windmills of the mind Hooray for Mark Lynas (News Review, September 28 ). At last a respected environmentalist who is willing to speak out against the woolly-minded loonies who think they can solve the world’s energy problems by sticking windmills all over the place. Stephen Porter Wolverhampton

Talking gibberish Not only is the idea of logging all digital communications oppressive and unjustified in a free society, but it is also pretty pointless (Government will spy on every call and e-mail, News, last week ). Do the powers that be really think that even moderately competent plotters will use pay-monthly mobiles and home broadband when pay-as-you-go phones and public-access internet facilities are widely available? John Henderson Alton, Hampshire

Stasi in their eyes The Tories must pledge that when they come to power, this headlong rush towards surveillance will be ended. Our country increasingly reminds me of East Germany. Steven Davidson Colchester, Essex

Blue tongue I am disappointed that neither Maurice Chittenden nor AA Gill (News and Culture, last week) expressed any disapproval at Jamie Oliver’s attempt, in his Jamie’s Ministry of Food programme, to emulate the obnoxious Gordon Ramsay by repeatedly resorting to foul language. Jamie is a popular figure with readers and viewers alike and his innovative approach to culinary issues is commendable, but he does not need to use foul language to make his point. Terry Bayford Epping, Essex

China’s triumph You relegate the Chinese space walk to a rear page under that dismal pun Going for a spacewok (World News, September 28). While the West wallows in its economic troubles, here is a signal from the future: the Chinese future. Brian Aldiss Old Headington, Oxford

Explore Letters

• Feedback