Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.
Lets make David Attenborough’s birthday a national environment day
I was pleased to read the article wherein eight-year-old Lyle Porretta’s petition to mark Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday next year with a bank holiday was proposed (Metro, Mon).
I found it refreshing and positive in our current climate, where there seems to be a distinct shortage of positive thinking and goodwill.
Lyle is a forward-thinking young individual who hopefully will be occupying our planet for a long time. Rather than just having a day off work, it would be good if we could link Sir David’s 100th birthday on May 8 to an environmentally friendly action day. It could be simple things such as walking or cycling instead of using motor vehicles, or avoiding single-use plastics.
Also, there could be scavenger hunts for discarded plastics or other items that are harmful to our wildlife and ecosystems. Marc, Halifax
Return of the pillory for petty crime?
Today In History (Metro, Mon) noted that an 1837 Act of Parliament abolished punishment by pillory. I should like to know on what grounds because its reintroduction would be ideal for the epidemics of vandals, litter-louts, dog-foulers, mobile phone-drivers, chewing-gum plasterers, ganja-gassers and bus-seat feet-abusers.
It would cost next to nothing, provide entertainment for the virtuous and avoid using up court time. G Martin, South Gloucestershire
Give a sad tree some saturation
Geoff (MetroTalk, Fri) says we can all step in if we see trees and shrubs wilting in council-run spaces and water them ourselves, even though ‘it’s not our job’. The public can absolutely do our bit to reduce this effect of global warming – a bucket of vegetable rinse or unsalted (cooled) pasta water will do.
Even better, if you walk by a sad-looking tree and give it a boost, ten or so people doing the same really adds up. They give us their shade so we owe them our efforts. Diane, Hampshire (Visiting London)
Why didn’t the BBC axe Bobby Vlyan?
Glastonbury 2025 – Latest news
- Glastonbury 2025 Sunday live: Olivia Rodrigo headlining final day after Kneecap and Bob Vylan chanting controversy
- Bob Vylan reacts after Glastonbury performance is probed by police alongside Kneecap
- I live-streamed Kneecap’s Glastonbury set when the BBC wouldn’t — here’s why
- Why is there no Glastonbury in 2026? There’s a very good reason
To get more of the latest news from Glastonbury Festival, visit Metro’s dedicated page.
The BBC says the livestream of rapper Bobby Vylan’s Glastonbury performance should have been cut once he started chanting ‘death, death to the IDF’ (Israeli Defence Forces). Too right. It brings to mind when Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross said inappropriate things about actor Andrew Sachs and his grand-daughter on Radio 2 in 2008. The difference in that case is it wasn’t even live but was still broadcast. It brings into question the competency of the BBC staff put in a position to make these judgment calls. Keith Strong, Kent
A scorcher of a summer in ’76
Further to your report on the long hot summer of 1976 when some areas went 45 days without rain and the temperature peaked at 35.6C (Metro, Mon). I remember it well. I was taking my O-levels and despite the heat we
coped. Buses, Tubes and trains had opening windows and weren’t limited to 20mph! It was ‘cool’ to travel on public transport. Dominic West, Isleworth
That’s not very iconic.
Please may I request (for the sake of my sanity if for no other reason) that all and every use of the word ‘iconic’ in all and every form and in all and
every publication be forthwith banned now and in the foreseeable future. Thank you. John Lawrence, London
Taxes aren’t the real reason millionaires are leaving the UK
Timothy (MetroTalk, Tue) praises Reform’s ‘Britannia Card’ proposal for non-doms, which would see them exempt from tax on foreign earnings for a £250,000 fee. He also claims millionaires are leaving in ‘droves’.
There are about 3 million millionaires in the UK. Last year just over 10,000 left. Droves? Many have cited trading difficulties due to Brexit as the reason. They were leaving in ‘droves’ before the current government, so to say it is due to taxes is not the full truth. Perhaps a happier, more equal society with less division, poverty and crime would keep them here. Catherine, London
‘Are Labour’s welfare policies fundamentally wrong?’
If you think the proposed ‘reforms’ to disability benefits are fair, just look at how disabled people have reacted to them.
Any disabled person I’ve spoken to about the cuts is dead set against them. Perhaps this is why Labour didn’t properly consult anyone who’d be affected – they knew disabled people would oppose them. Are all those people ‘scroungers’ or are Labour’s welfare policies fundamentally wrong? Helen Shaw, Liverpool
