I AM greatly worried not just about the Conservatives’ attack on the Civil Service but also about its cynical attitude towards the BBC.

It is one thing for Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings -- actually, make that Cummings, because Johnson has, scandalously, made himself invisible since the election -- to address the licence fee, and whether non-payment should be decriminalised.

But it is quite another for the government to boycott certain BBC programmes, including Today, on Radio 4, just because it claims to dislike them. It does not matter that Today has increased its numbers of listeners in recent weeks. For Number 10 to withhold ministers from scrutiny is an outrage, an affront to the notion that the government must be held to account.

It is dismaying that Cummings should be encouraged to imitate the contemptuous attitudes towards the media that flourish in Trump’s White House.

S. Hamilton, Glasgow.

SIX months ago, on the steps of No 10, Boris Johnson let it be known “that we will fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared”.

Where is that “prepared” plan, and how can any solution to social care be achieved when the migration of hard-working people who could work in the sector is to be curbed?

It also appears that the Johnson government is promoting a “Cultural Revolution” by threatening those in the Civil Service, BBC and other institutions previously independent of party interference, hoping this will somehow instigate a “Great Leap Forward” into making the UK a mighty world trading power (Empire2, I think they call it).

Designer babies, eugenics, “free” Caribbean holidays and voodoo economics---this government has already been in power far too long.

GR Weir,

Ochiltree.

IS there really anyone on the planet who is not yet aware that the tactic par excellence employed by our illustrious Prime Minister and his minions is that of diversion? And how many have noticed the news today for which this tactic is a cover?

I myself almost missed it, as did friends I have spoken to, slipped in among the hot topics of Coronavirus and immigration.

The UK government has now confirmed the full funding for the new Trident missiles will be sourced from the USA. Absolutely perfect timing. Get Scotland talking about damaging immigration proposals, while everyone is worrying about the spread of a dangerous new virus, and by the time the media or anyone else realises, the decision is all cut and dried.

A good day to bury bad news? When will we learn?

P. Davidson, Falkirk.

PRITI Patel says we will “forge a new path in the world”. Unfortunately it will be what is known as a cul de sac. Even if we do carry a nice blue passport.

George Smith, Clydebank.