Before asking for government bailouts (UK charities urgently call on PM to set up emergency fund, 17 February), big charities should spend their own reserves. Cancer Research UK entered the pandemic with over £300m in the bank; the National Trust had £320m. I would urge everybody to be as generous as possible to charities, but choose carefully. You don’t want to see your hard-earned gift being added to a cash pile in a bank vault.
Ray Kipling
Former deputy director, Royal National Lifeboat Institution
• Thank goodness David Cameron is available to publicly advise the PM on the necessity of eradicating poverty and investing in a just and green economy for the betterment of all (Be ‘muscular’ and drive green recovery, Cameron tells Johnson, 24 February). This is generally the part of the film where our tough, experienced team leader looks out across a sea of stunned expressions and announces: “We’re through the looking glass, people.”
Karen Abbott
Macclesfield, Cheshire
• My friend in the Netherlands and I, who share the crossword daily, would agree they’ve become harder (Letters, 21 February). We are hoping the jag (Scottish for jab) will help us.
Joyce Hawthorn
Kendal, Cumbria
• Your long read (Rock of ages: how chalk made England, 23 February) says the British Geological Survey’s map shows a swathe of chalk that begins on the east coast of Yorkshire. Any pointers on where the west coast is?
Mike Lowcock
Sandbach, Cheshire
• I see that the Daily Telegraph used to pay Boris Johnson £4.80 a word for his self-styled journalism (Boris Johnson says he feels guilty about his journalism, 23 February). At that rate my response would cost them a mere £9.60.
Kevin Donovan
Birkenhead, Merseyside
• If we are to have vaccine passports (Report, 24 February), may I ask what colour they will be?
Peter Evans
Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
