Latest news with #MarkRayner
Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
There should be no equivocation over Israel's right to neutralise Iran
SIR – Israel is dealing with an existential threat from a country controlled by a dictatorship of extreme religious leaders who are intent on bringing about the destruction of the Jewish state and its people (Letters, June 16). Iran has been developing a nuclear capability obviously designed to achieve this ambition. At the same time, it runs and supports a number of terrorist organisations that have been causing death and destruction in the Middle East. Yet despite all this, our Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have appeared reluctant to take sides in this matter. What is wrong with them? Colonel Mark Rayner (retd) Eastbourne, East Sussex SIR – Those who have been condemning Israel's actions need to ask themselves a simple question ('Protesters march through London waving Iranian flags', report, June 15). Would they prefer Iran to be able to produce nuclear weapons – and then have to deal with the results? Tim Pope Weybridge, Surrey SIR – Israel's strikes and covert activities against the country responsible for so much evil around the globe have demonstrated its military superiority. The free world owes the Israelis a debt of gratitude. Hannah Hunt Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire SIR – Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East, surrounded by hostile actors and countries that want to wipe it off the map. Western nations should applaud its fight, and its efforts to restrict Iran's nuclear capabilities. Many of Iran's suppressed citizens would also like a change in their country's leadership, so they can live freer and better lives. The world is reaching a pivotal moment in the Middle East (as well as in Ukraine). This is no time for Europe, or any Western nation, to sit on the fence. Christopher Hunt Swanley, Kent SIR – Iranians living in Britain – along with many in Iran – are praying for the downfall of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In 1979, many Iranians were praying for the downfall of the repressive Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. But what good did it do them when he was kicked out? Sadly, taking out a repressive regime does not ensure good government in the future. Gerald Heath Box, Wiltshire SIR – I have been following the coverage of the Iranian attacks on Tel Aviv. My mind then turned to Britain. We have no iron dome, no bomb shelters and not enough fighter jets. When will our Government wake up? Angela Miller Wolverhampton
Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
It's time to think again about the purpose of a university education
SIR – Successive governments have increased targets for the number of school pupils going on to university. Less attention appears to have been devoted, however, to determining how many graduates we actually need in order to maintain this nation's intellectual horsepower. Currently, many students go on to gain – at great cost – obscure degrees that do little to prepare them for the job market. A lot of them would be better off gaining more practical skills from vocational training; the country would also benefit from this. It is true, as Jemima Lewis argues (Comment, May 15), that university provides an ideal environment in which to make the transition from childhood to adulthood, but there must be better ways. We need a review of universities and the university system, and some radical changes. If this results in a number of institutions going to the wall, so be it. Mark Rayner Eastbourne, East Sussex SIR – Jemima Lewis is right that there is more to a degree than the promise of a well-paid job, but there are other benefits worth adding to the ones she puts forward. University should be for training minds in rational thought and objective judgment, rather than memorising and repeating received wisdom. It is only after this rigorous training that the vocational element should be addressed. I can only speak from personal experience, having taken a degree in modern languages that did not require fluency in those languages but demanded strong skills in research and argument. I then qualified as a chartered accountant. In my career I found that the ability to make decisions under time pressure was the main requirement of the job – for which the rigour of my degree was much more useful than accountancy training. The reversal of the so-called graduate premium is down to the proliferation of inappropriate degree subjects, which make few intellectual demands of students. There is a strong case for scrapping these. Donald Clarke Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Telegraph
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
It would be a grave mistake not to boost Britain's defence spending now
SIR – The first duty of any government is to ensure the security of the realm and its people. It is clear that Britain is in a parlous state ('British Army 'too run down' for peacekeeping', report, February 16). This needs to be remedied immediately – not at the point when an aggressor actually does more than just threaten us. Peter Higgins West Wickham, Kent SIR – There is no doubt that we need to invest more in defence, even if it's just to man and operate properly the systems we already possess, and to replenish stockpiles of ammunition. However, before we do so, the serving and retired generals who tell us that we can't put 10,000 soldiers into operation and sustain this commitment from a pool of 70,000 (report, February 15) need to explain why. The taxpayer is generally sympathetic to our Armed Forces, but does have a right to know what exactly is going on. Colonel Mark Rayner (retd) Eastbourne, East Sussex SIR – The so-called peace dividend has been squandered. Now that we should really be spending 5 per cent of GDP on defence, I would urge the following: slash the overseas aid budget; get rid of the freeze on fuel duty; do away with the triple lock for the time being (and I write as a pensioner); and review welfare payments. Then cut back the Civil Service and refuse further public-sector pay rises without reform. These and many more things can be done to cover increased defence costs. If only we had a government with the guts to do it. Alan D Collins Stiffkey, Norfolk SIR – Is it too much to hope that the Government will realise that boosting defence spending by awarding contracts to private-sector British defence equipment and service providers will also act as a significant contributor to economic growth? John Bath Clevedon, Somerset SIR – I recall being threatened by a Russian general 24 years ago. He pointed out that his missiles in Kaliningrad could easily strike London. That was before the proliferation of ballistic and cruise missiles, and the recent massive increase in drone capability. The images of the missile attacks against Israel last year were a warning. Sending poorly armed British carriers on a world cruise is mere PR. What we need is our own iron dome to protect these islands, which will require much greater levels of spending. A few unreliable Type 45 destroyers and a handful of Typhoons cannot provide adequate defence. Gp Capt D R E Evans Cardiff
