I am in favour, in principle, of George Monbiot’s proposal that governments should be chosen by lot (General elections are a travesty of democracy – let’s give the people a real voice, 7 June). Even so, to be on the safe side, I would suggest the random choice should be made from a limited class of people. My preference would be those who can read Latin and whistle most of the themes of Beethoven’s piano sonatas.
Michael Bulley
Chalon-sur-Saône, France
• I am reminded of Paul Foot when I read about Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer trying to establish their “normal people” credentials (Marina Hyde, 12 June). Whenever someone brought up his privileged background when he spoke at a Socialist Worker meeting, he would say: “I’m proud to be a class traitor.”
Simon Maddison
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
• Sadly, a dearth of Tory workers does not mean that Labour will win (Conservative grassroots campaign in ‘disarray’, say insiders and opponents, 13 June). In 1992, the Tories were so desperate that they even had my aunt-in-law Maud, aged 92, out delivering leaflets, and John Major still won.
Margaret Squires
St Andrews, Fife
• I was amused by the photo of Mary Poppins holding a stuffed robin being used to illustrate your letters on perfectionism (10 June). It is an American robin (a large thrush) rather than the native European robin, even though the film is set in London.
Dr Stephen Moss
Somerset
• I don’t know much about Taylor Swift (Letters, 12 June), but I know Trump is frightened of her. That’s enough for me to be an admirer.
Tony Green
Ipswich, Suffolk
