SIR – With all the leaks it was known that the Leeds HS2 leg was to be scrapped, but I remained hopeful until the last moment that the new proposals were not true.
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Sir: Boyd Tonkin’s review of Anna Aslanyan’s
Dancing on Ropes highlights the post-war abandonment of local Afghan and Iraqi interpreters by the US and UK (Books, 17 July). The UK’s response, up until last summer, deserved every bit of Tonkin’s strictures but the past year has seen a ‘strategic shift’. Ben Wallace and Priti Patel were clearly determined to change our approach and to give sanctuary to our former staff. More generous regulations were introduced in December and April but the imminent withdrawal of Nato forces now raises the fearful prospect of a Taleban takeover, or Taleban-induced paralysis of the Afghan government, before the necessary evacuation can take place.
Mark Peaker
SIR – What looked like the eternally insoluble problem of the Irish border was finally sorted out due in part to having “outside” impartial help. Let the EU and UK admit to needing such a pair of hands before it is too late.
Meg Hall
SIR – Even now, it would be a good idea to try to postpone Brexit, while we remain in the transition stage.
Britain is facing at least two much more urgent issues: the large number of empty shops in what used to be flourishing high streets and the coronavirus. The virus is a worldwide problem, which calls for international co-operation. It cannot be solved if every nation adopts its own solution.