A satirical take on Keir’s latest address - your letters, plus a mammoth task for the RAF in 1988 - an archive picture

​Keir a reaction of a wet lettuce

At a time of great peril a wet lettuce addresses the nation.

We have had many great leaders to guide us through rough seas: Pitt, Gladstone, Disraeli, Churchill, Thatcher to name but a few.

Now we have Keir! We had one of his regular TV appearances. It seems that prior to the appearance, he has had every drop of blood drained from his body. The eyes give the impression that he's just finished a couple of lengths of breast stroke in an over chlorinated swimming pool

As ever, he bumbles on about the importance of international law (as if Iran or any other rogue state such as Russia ever give a toss about that), United Nations, de-escalation etc.

But wait, it seems that RAF planes have been scrambled in a purely defensive act to protect our allies in the Middle East. He sits on his socialist fence as ever regarding whether he is in favour or otherwise of American/Israeli actions. Then, after a weekend studying his dusty tomes on international law. Keir then finds a section that can be interpreted to mean that US aircraft can use British bases. Clearly he realises that the attack on our Cyprus base means that radicle Islamist cries of "Death to America "Death to Israel" and "Death to England" might be taken seriously.

As far as I'm concerned of all the interventions over the past 30 years, this was necessary, and is perhaps the only one I would agree with.

Yes, there will be chaos, yes there will be a vacuum that may be filled with something even worse but this action may put back this terrorist state for a decade. Still, why should England tremble? We have Keir's Iron dome of legal tomes to protect us.

Alan M Etheridge, Sedgley

Flags raised for many reasons

Considerable debate has taken place both on this letters page and more broadly regarding the display of the national flag. Some have argued that it should be viewed as a distraction and a provocation. To support such an argument, one would necessarily need to apply this reasoning universally to all flags flown at any time.

For instance, football fans would have to stop raising flags celebrating their team's colours, and all public buildings would have to lower their flags, including, I would presume, those representing Stonewall and the so-called trans rights movement.

Failure to implement such measures could be construed as partiality by those who permit the flying of some flags but not others. The motives of individuals who fly the UK Union Flag are personal; for my part, the flag is a symbol of immense pride, and I have no hesitation in raising it or defending it if challenged.

Conversely, I harbour no objection to others raising any flags they choose, provided they do so peacefully and respectfully—in particular, in a classroom setting where a teacher might discipline the entire class for the actions of one individual. If individuals wish to fly flags, they should do so peacefully and appropriately, or refrain entirely.

Martin Bristow, Wolverhampton 

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