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

Unfair to hire 11-plus tutors

As a retired school teacher with almost 40 years of experience in secondary schools in Kent, I would take issue with the assertion by Simon Webb, former KCC principal primary adviser for state schools, who said “hiring 11-plus tutors is simply a waste of money”.

I would rebut his assertion by saying that back in 2016 the Parliamentary Education Select Committee report on grammar schools pointed out that the ability to pay for 11-plus tuition was a ‘significant influence’ on a child’s ability to pass the exam. That was the position then and eight years later, that is still the position, with a ‘tutor proof’ 11- plus remaining an unobtainable ‘holy grail’ in education.

I would also take issue with the traditional view of intelligence which Simon Webb subscribes to, which underpins his assertion. This states that intelligence is ‘fixed’ and explains why he said “either a child has the ability to pass the 11-plus or they don’t”.

I based all my teaching over the years on the diametrically opposed view which says intelligence is ‘malleable’ and based it on things children could do to improve and linked to positive educational outcomes, such as working hard in school, persisting in the face of setbacks and setting realistic but challenging goals.

Simon Webb being asked his opinion on tutoring was prompted by the possibility that an incoming Labour government would levy a proposed 20% hike on independent schools. This in turn might increase the amount of private tuition being used by those parents, who could not now afford the fees in these schools and tried to get their children into state-run grammars instead.

At the moment Kent has 38 of the 163 grammar schools in the country but only a few are ‘super-selective’ with their own entrance exams and if this happens, more will probably go this way and make it even more difficult for children from poorer families to get into these schools. I think this will almost certainly be the case.

My personal view is that imposing the strain of the 11-plus on children is unnecessary and wrong.

John Cooper

Make tax system fairer to help all

Britain is in a real mess. You have to be incredibly lucky to find an NHS dentist, while millions of us are still waiting for NHS treatment. That’s before we even get to unaffordable energy bills, or councils going bust.

The government needs to deliver a budget that works for people in our area and breathes life back into Britain.

Rather than rumoured tax cuts - which tend to benefit the very wealthiest - the Chancellor should make the tax system fairer to invest in this country, our high streets and our healthcare system.

He could raise tens of billions of pounds by closing unfair tax loopholes and ensuring that super-rich people and companies pay what’s fair.

This way, tax can be used for good, so that everyone benefits. Will the Chancellor do the right thing for once?

Barry Oakland

Plan housing to meet our needs

My argument against car ownership is that a far better transport system could be created if we used modern technology. It is possible to have a public transport system that gives everyone the freedom that Mr Britnell desires (letters last week).

But this requires a totally different form of ownership. It has to be community based and exclude individual ownership.

The solution of electric cars is a mirage, the extent of exclusion from car ownership will be greatly increased through the shortage of necessary chemicals and the consequent cost of batteries.

As far as housing is concerned, I am not arguing for soulless urban sprawl. What I argue for is that the provision of houses to be planned to meet the needs of people.

Nationally there are a great number of unoccupied houses that could provide homes for people. Developers have large stocks of land upon which they could build but refrain from doing so because land prices would then fall, hence reducing their profits.

I am not the one living in the past. Life at present is unacceptable. I am urging people to look to the future, to use technology for the benefit of people, to stop the waste of money spent on armaments and weapons and to organise society for the benefit of each and every individual.

Mr Britnell is correct. This does require a complete remodelling of our world. But this is not beyond our means. It has happened many times throughout history.

To remain stuck in the past is a sure way to disaster.

Ralph A. Tebbutt

Companies give in to woke groupthink

The decision by Lyle’s to replace the iconic logo that has served the company well for the last 141 years is just another example of the way in which long-established, respected and much-loved businesses and institutions are rolling over and surrendering to warped woke groupthink.

Those at Lyles responsible for this unnecessary and undoubtedly costly farce are of the same woke mentality as the idiots at British Airways who, in 1997 came up with the bright idea which saw BA’s aircraft flying around the world looking as if they had been vandalised by graffiti louts.

It took four years and a great deal of money before they recognised that it had done absolutely nothing for the carrier’s image and scrapped it.

Not to mention the millions wasted by Royal Mail/Post Office in 2001 when it decided to rebrand itself as Consignia because, according to those responsible, ‘Consignia says more about what we do than Royal Mail/Post Office does’! That lasted just one year.

I confidently predict that executives at Lyles, like those at BA and Consignia, will end up, deservedly, with their faces smothered in egg.

The more we pander to wokeists, the more they’ll demand.

Bob Readman

Country dwellers have become politically homeless

People in the countryside have faced a generation of economic neglect. Despite covering 85% of our land, rural communities feel unseen.

And this is why they could deal the biggest shock of the coming general election.

The Conservatives’ roots traditionally run deepest in the countryside. But according to a Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and Survation poll of 1,100 rural voters, this historic bond could be about to break.

Months before the UK goes to the ballot box, Labour has overtaken the Conservatives in England’s 100 most rural constituencies, polling at 37% to the Tories’ 34%. Compared to 2019, this means Labour has surged by 17% and the Conservatives have collapsed by -25%. Seats across the South East could turn from blue to red, or yellow.

Before the Labour Party starts celebrating, they should be under no illusion: much more needs to be done to earn these votes.

The rural economy is 19% less productive than the national average. This translates to £43billion of missed economic opportunity, and turning this around requires nothing short of radical ambition.

This is why the CLA is stepping in. Rural England doesn’t want to be treated like a museum. Like anywhere else in the UK, we just want policies that match our aspirations.

The CLA has launched six missions, designed to help policymakers unlock the potential of rural communities, for the good of our countryside, and our country as a whole. Anyone interested in rural votes in this election – take note. We need at least £4 billion a year to invest in a world-class agriculture policy, so our farmers are no longer trying to create a sustainable future on a shoestring budget.

Let’s build enough housing to encourage lifelong communities. Rural crime, rarely acknowledged like urban crime, must stop blighting neighbourhoods. Public rights of way must be funded and maintained properly, so everyone can respect and enjoy our beautiful countryside.

Recently, the electoral map has developed a habit of redrawing itself. Last time it was the ‘red wall’, this time it could be the ‘rural wall’. The only thing for certain is that, for the first time in decades, the countryside is politically homeless and its votes are up for grabs.

Tim Bamford, Regional Director of Country Land and Business Association (CLA) South East

We shouldn’t fight other people’s battles

Very few politicians at Westminster have served in the armed services and even fewer have been involved in military conflict, so it is sickening and shocking to see the cavalier and contemptible way they risk servicemen's lives by sending them to conflicts that have absolutely nothing to do with this country’s defence.

There are not enough forces to defend our own borders yet our Prime Minister despatches British forces to the Gulf - not to defend British interests but those of another country. (Houthi rebels in Yemen are only targeting Israel-bound shipping).

The sole function of our armed forces is - or should be - defence of the British homeland and the British people; it’s not to interfere in foreign wars or fight other peoples’ battles (for which we will get no thanks). And British troops won't get any thanks either from the government for their efforts when - or if - they return from such foreign entanglements. No four or five-star hotels for them, more likely a tent or cardboard box on the streets.

If our politicians feel so strongly about these foreign issues, maybe they should do what previous governments have done – recruit cutthroats and mercenaries to do their dirty work instead. Or better still, grab a tin hat and a gun and go out and do the fighting themselves. That way we’d have far fewer wars and might even get some peace.

John Helm

Young are being brainwashed over conflict

Judging by its products there is clearly something very wrong with our education system. We are seeing youngsters, many of school age, marching in support of the terrorists of Hamas, displaying posters attacking the right of Israel to exist and even chanting denials of the Holocaust. In addition a large number of those at university are supporting overtly antisemitic policies.

The Second World War cost this country dearly in lives, and in economic terms, yet we had held the line against the most evil regime the world had seen and contributed mightily to the final triumph, so that the world owed us an enormous moral debt. This is being negated as we see our Jewish compatriots under attack, not primarily from the usual suspects on the far right but from the virtue-signalling, self-righteous, ignoramuses of the left.

In order to reverse this we must insist that all children are taught properly about the Holocaust, including a showing of the film Schindler’s List, while the actual details of the barbaric attack by Hamas should be disseminated widely. In addition an account of the continual unjustified persecution of Jewish people over centuries should be a mandatory part of the history curriculum. This will require the removal of those teachers and university lecturers who brainwash the young into believing political lies.

Colin Bullen

Prince should not be gagged

I don't understand why people have made such a fuss about the Prince of Wales calling for an end to the fighting in Gaza.

He didn't say anything overtly controversial although some may think the fact he breached royal protocol by voicing his opinion, was in itself, controversial.

I don't believe anyone should be gagged or denied the right to free speech especially those in a position which makes their voices echo around the world.

If anything, I think the Prince was being too prudent, I would rather he'd said: 'In God's name stop the bloodshed!'

It must be frustrating for the prince and his father, the King, having to hold their tongue for an outdated tradition.

But I believe Prince William's plea was heartfelt and I applaud his decision in defying the concept that the monarchy shouldn't speak about politics or current affairs.

I hope he has set in motion a new openness which is afforded to everyone bar those who are burdened with being of royal heritage.

Michael Smith