Our readers from across the county give their weekly take on the biggest issues impacting Kent and beyond.

Some letters refer to past correspondence which can be found by clicking here. Join the debate by emailing letters@thekmgroup.co.uk

When did everyone become so angry?

Wherever you look, anger is the default option for some people. Anger about new housing developments, pylons, parking, the way history is taught in schools, potholes, ULEZ, the price of fuel, taxation, the NHS, anything.

A day never passes without someone being angry about something. Why?

I think there are a number of reasons. Firstly social media. It is the bully pulpit of the cruel, spiteful and unhinged. The early optimism of a worldwide web which would inform and enlighten the world, like a giant online responsive library, has given way to become a medium where caution is necessary. Not for nothing are the unpleasant online individuals known as trolls.

Britain is not an angry land. Most people get on with each other and are tolerant, forgiving and kind but the noisy, angry ones get the attention of those tireless slaves of online commerce, the algorithms.

Being nice, quiet and understanding does not cut it with an algorithm. Why? Because being nice and quiet is not commercially attractive.

British public opinion is like a spinning top, anchored around a central axis. From time to time, as in 1945 and in 1979, the bias of the axis floats between right and left.

Recently we have seen grit thrown into the mechanism, where individuals have incited others or carried out violent acts based on gross misinformation.

There is nothing patriotic in destroying a library, or a bus. Neither will it deliver a better world by setting fire to a hostel full of frightened individuals, nor will attacking the police bring forth a new Jerusalem.

I can understand why some are losing heart over the black hole in the budget and the rows over freebies and the pay of individuals.

The freebies given to Prime Ministers have been a part of political life since Robert Walpole became our first premier back in the 18th century and as long as it does not get out of hand, and it is declared, we should not fuss over it too much.

In my view we should aim to be less angry and more cooperative in life, perhaps a return of the mythical blitz spirit might do many of us no harm at all.

Richard Styles

Government acting against working people

The debate around the question of winter fuel payments to pensioners goes beyond the particular issues concerned.

It is a matter of deep concern that a Labour government should, as its first economic decision, attack the principle of universal benefits.

The argument for universal benefits and against means tests is absolutely clear. If everyone gets the benefit there can be no complaint and no injustice.

For those fortunate enough to have other means of income and wealth, the reply is equally clear. Those in that fortunate position pay their taxes.

If the finances of the country are in such dire straits, the answer is to increase taxes on those whose wealth and income is more than sufficient for their needs.

It is no good politicians claiming that ‘we are all in this together’ when there is such gross inequality.

Those who have loyally supported the Labour Party have done so because they see that party as the party of working people.

Sadly, there is a serious danger that by betraying fundamental principles, other forces of a regressive and reactionary character will gain support which will ultimately act against the interests of working people.

Ralph A. Tebbutt

Move to right won’t help Tories

In his letter last week. Mr Aichgy totally misses the points I made.

I did not endorse the Labour government and I am well aware of the deficiencies of the current ‘first past the post’ electoral system - they are long-standing!

However the reality is this system has delivered the current make-up of parliament and it will be used again at the next election and may produce a similar situation.

The recent broadcast by Sir John Major is very instructive; he points out that the overwhelming Tory party losses were to Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

He argues that this is the political reality, thus a right-wing move to the Reform Party would be a disaster.

Steve Tasker

Legal challenge a good bet on fuel payments

The first duty of a good member of parliament is to their constituents, not their political party; regardless of pressure from whips to ensure support for the party line.

The more MPs have their party whip withdrawn, the greater the number of independent members who are free to follow their conscience and support a vote of no confidence in the government, which if lost would require a general election to be held.

Regardless of whether or not there is a legal requirement to publish an impact assessment on restricting Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) entitlement, there is certainly an ethical need to do so.

It is likely a judicial review of the policy and how it was made and introduced would succeed, not least of all for abuse of the human right to good health.

This would not be the first time a Secretary of State for Work and Pensions’ decision to allegedly save the government money has been overturned and would likely be a more effective and a warmer option in colder weather than street protests (letters last week).

Richard West

Reasons not to be cheerful

Chris Britcher’s column asks ‘why do we have to run down the places we live?’

We had 14 years of Conservatives who did little or nothing to stop the boats and our new Home Secretary is walking around with her head in the sand offering nothing of any consequence.

The public are sick to death of trying to get an appointment with their GP and having to jump through hoops with the ridiculous triage system which asks loads of questions which are not relevant to the complaint, and in some cases quite ambiguous.

We now find that our illustrious new government have got their noses in the trough and taking freebies from all and sundry, while giving huge pay rises to the unions and doctors without anymore extra productivity and, at the same time, taking fuel allowance off pensioners to pay for the above.

And if the above was not enough to see rising discontent among the populace, we have councils who are ripping off the motorist left, right and centre with fines which in some cases make it nigh on impossible to drive a car safely without contravening some money grabbing scheme. Councils all jump on the bandwagon under the guise of road safety.

So Chris Britcher, do you honestly not believe the public have earned the right to run down places where we live?

Sid Anning

Bold decisions needed on NHS

So, it is now categorically clear that the Conservative Party left our NHS on the brink, because Lord Darzi's report now proves it.

Ever since the NHS was founded under a Labour government it has never been in such a sorry state. So I fully welcome Sir Keir Starmer's commitment to a 10-year plan to turn the NHS around.

The Conservative Party policy of sticking plaster politics has failed completely. Tough and bold decisions need to be taken.

Geoffrey Brooking

Enough rhetoric over crossings

In a few weeks, two boats have capsized and 20 people died attempting to reach UK shores.

Why are people risking their lives to get here? Do we know them?

Your article clarified that last week’s boatload (eight deaths) came from Iran, Eritrea, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan and Egypt. Sudan, Syria and Afghanistan are war-torn countries with continuing violence.

Eritrea has been described as the North Korea of Africa, one large forced labour camp. Egypt has a leader who seized power in a coup, with an abysmal human rights record. In Afghanistan, in addition, women are confined to their homes, not allowed to finish school or to take up employment. In Iran, women are arrested by the ‘morality’ police for not wearing their hijab correctly.

All these countries have totalitarian leaders who practice targeted assassinations, arbitrary arrest and torture. There is no freedom to express dissent.

To write a letter to the media such as this one, would lead to my arrest, beatings in prison and possibly my death or disappearance.

If we want to stop deaths in the Channel, we need our politicians to come up with serious viable solutions, not rhetoric.

In addition, let us take pride in the fact that these people in small boats perceive the UK as a country where they will be safe, where we have an independent justice system, a working democracy, and a population who, when face to face with someone in trouble, practice kindness and compassion.

Joy Stephens

Smuggling gangs must be smashed

The government has pledged to go after the criminal gangs who are furnishing migrants’ ambitions to reach the UK.

For the criminals who perpetrate the traffic in people, it has substantial rewards and where there is scope to make lucrative sums of money, the risks become almost irrelevant.

If one group is dismantled by law enforcement, there are other individuals or groups who are prepared to fill the void and continue with the operation.

But in spite of this drawback, every means should be adopted to thwart and frustrate the flow of people coming to this country on overloaded dinghies. And this must include tackling the problem in resourceful ways, regardless of the difficulties it may encounter.

The new Home Secretary has seen fit to rename illegal migrants as irregular migrants - a name change that doesn't really suit, as the people who arrive on our coastline in dinghies are as regular as the incoming tide.

Michael Smith

Shocked by tone of letters

I find it disturbing that you are increasingly publishing letters of a far-right nature.

One correspondent described the Notting Hill Carnival as 'the annual festival of crime' and another letter characterised the disgraceful incidents of last month, where howling mobs firebombed the police and asylum seekers, as English men defending their streets.

I was surprised and a little shocked to see such distorted attitudes aired so openly.

Anne Alcock

Light sentence sends wrong message

How in God’s name did Huw Edwards manage to get away with a suspended sentence?

We know the answer of course. He’s wealthy enough to afford the most expensive legal team and engage ‘experts’ to make excuses for his inexcusable, appalling crime.

If he were not who he is - with friends in very high places - he’d have now been behind bars for a very long time.

What message does Edwards’ slap-on-the-wrist send to others who download child porn?

Just claim, when you end up in court, that you have no recollection of doing so and the liberal lefties who purport to dispense justice in this country - but seem to care more for the welfare of criminals than their victims - will fall for your sob stories and ensure that you escape any appropriate or real punishment for your crime.

Bob Readman