Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Letters

Appoint a minister for drought – then it will rain

Drought Groucho Bangkok
Denis Howell was appointed minister for drought after a heatwave in August 1976.
Denis Howell was appointed minister for drought after a heatwave in August 1976. Photograph: PA

With the country facing a drought (Water firms resist government calls for more hosepipe bans, 3 August), surely now is the time to appoint a minister for drought, as occurred in 1976 when, almost immediately following Denis Howell’s appointment, there was heavy rainfall across the country, causing widespread flooding.
Adrian Brodkin
London

• Are Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss in fact Marxists, since they appear to believe in Groucho’s alleged remark: “Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them … well, I have others.”
Michael Sanderson
Elsecar, South Yorkshire

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Oregon woman claims Acme is tinting salmon packaging to trick customers. She peels the plastic off the fish and shows exactly what is underneath
What you see isn't what you get.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Hayley Williams Urges Fans to Vote in November After Calling MAGA Supporters 'Pieces of Sh*t' on Stage
Hayley Williams urged fans to vote in November during a New Orleans concert before directing profane criticism at MAGA and referencing the Ku Klux Klan.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Reading alone, together is all the rage at book doofs and reading parties. What makes it social?
It’s called a doof, but it’s actually all about quiet reading. There are beanbags, some chairs and a few shared tables, where readers sit (or lie) down and read their separate books. Maybe some music playing in the background. Book Doof’s founder calls it a social experience. But can people…
The Conversation
The Conversation
‘This is not my camera’: Woman trusts camera repair shop in LA with family heirloom but the camera they return sets alarm bells ringing
She just wants her grandmother's camera back.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
“Not The Lip Filler”: Christina Aguilera’s Makes Bold Fashion Move In Latest Public Appearance
Christina Aguilera’s latest public appearance has fans dissecting everything from her lips to her facial features after she stepped out in a daring, lingerie-inspired look.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Why Does Ice Cream Sometimes Get Gritty After It’s Been in the Freezer?
Few things are more disappointing than opening a container of ice cream expecting a creamy scoop and finding a gritty, crunchy, or sandy texture instead. It may seem as though the dessert has gone bad, especially if it was smooth when you first brought it home. However, several different changes…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play