Why I stand up for Judy's criticism of gentlemen

I WAS amused at Judy Finnigan's comment in the Richard and Judy column regarding commuters who fail to give up their seats on public transport to pregnant women ("Go on behave like a gent", June 12).

She rues the fact that men in particular have lost the art of behaving like gentlemen.

While I would not disagree with this statement, Judy must appreciate that many women in this day and age have stopped behaving like ladies.

It brings to mind the story of the man who graciously offered his seat on a bus to a standing female passenger. In a rather haughty manner the woman said to him: "I suppose you are doing this because I am a lady."

"No," the man replied, "I am doing it because I am a gentleman."

John Vinnicombe,
Cardiff

National Lottery could help fund essential medicines

A LOT has appeared in the Daily Express about essential drugs being withheld from patients in order to save money. This policy is an absolute scandal.

I suggest that a drug fund is set up, financed by the National Lottery, which is supposed to help good causes. What better cause than saving lives and easing suffering? Why not allocate £1million each week to a ring-fenced fund managed by a special panel of senior doctors?

Hubert Davies,
Southport, Merseyside

Lessons on wearing high heels should get the boot

I WRITE regarding your article "High heels classes for girls" (June 9) about the Sexy Heels In The City course at South Thames College in London.

If health and safety officials can ban the playing of conkers in school then they should be banning such silly lessons - and high-heeled shoes from sale in shops.

Alan Gray,
By e-mail

How Cameron could soften the pain of spending cuts

FOLLOWING his warnings that Britain's financial problems are much worse than expected, I can think of several ways that David Cameron could soften the pain.

How about axeing all State benefits paid to non-British nationals and withholding billions in foreign aid? If someone has to feel the pain, why should it be the British people? Most of us accept that change is coming but it has to be in every aspect of government spending not just those parts that will hurt our own poor and needy.

Barrie Warren,
By e-mail

Hypocrite Balls helped to land us in this mess

ED Balls is now telling the British people that the last government, of which he was part, did allow too many migrants into the UK. What a hypocrite he is ("Cheek of it! Balls says: We messed up on immigration", June 7).

Labour, with Balls serving as Gordon Brown's long-time henchmen, wanted to ensure it got the votes of these migrants without any thought for us, the hard-working  taxpayers of the UK.

Labour failed to realise what effect so many migrants would have on housing, the NHS and schools. We can now see what a dire state our country is in.

I cannot see how Prime Minister David Cameron is going to get us out of this mess. Many people feel their towns have been taken over by migrants.

Labour's open-door policy was a catastrophic mistake and unless the Government tackles this huge problem we will become one of the poorest countries in the western world when we used to be one of the richest.

Ann Masters,
By e-mail

Ant and Dec's chemistry proves a winning formula

READER Colin Burleigh does not get it with Ant and Dec (Letters, June 2). It's not so much their comments as the cheeky, affectionate camaraderie between the two.

Not all of Morecambe and Wise's dialogue was remotely funny but once again it was the chemistry and Ant and Dec certainly have it.

I don't know anyone who doesn't love them. They are particularly funny when hosting I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here but they can also be serious when the programme warrants it.

They have done documentaries on serious subjects and been extremely professional. There again, the amount of work they get and the awards on their mantlepiece prove how well loved they are.

So I'm afraid people like Mr Burleigh are in the minority.

Maureen Leadley
By e-mail