CS Lewis’s poem railing against scientific phonetics was apparently prompted by his hatred of his contemporary HC Wyld, who he considered a bullying snob (‘Loud-mouthed bully’: CS Lewis satirised Oxford peer in secret poems, 19 May). Well, it took one to know one.
Prof James M Scobbie
Professor of speech sciences, Queen Margaret University
• Zoraya ter Beek claims that Dutch euthanasia law has “really strict rules, and it’s really safe” (Dutch woman, 29, granted euthanasia approval on grounds of mental suffering, 16 May). Her very own case (in addition to much other evidence besides) refutes her assertion.
Prof John Keown
Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University
• The print version of your article (Ex-ministers warn tuition fees must rise urgently, 20 May) refers to Margaret Hodge as a “fourth former higher education minister”. A fourth-former could indeed do a better job than the present incumbent.
Julian Goodkin
London
• Is the advocacy of smaller families by Roger Plenty (Letters, 19 May) the final nail in the coffin of nominative determinism?
Mike Hine
Kingston upon Thames, London
• Babies’ first steps usually end in spectacular falls. Should someone warn Keir (Keir Starmer’s ‘first steps’ might get him into Downing Street. But there is danger ahead, 20 May)?
Anita Dickinson
London
• Dr Spooner has a new election-winning slogan for Labour: “Steer calmer with Keir Starmer”.
Philip Steadman
London
• Do you have a photograph you’d like to share with Guardian readers? If so, please click here to upload it. A selection will be published in our Readers’ best photographs galleries and in the print edition on Saturdays.
