Fair to give MPs a furlough wage cut | Brief letters

Patriotism and arms sales | Politicians' incomes | The Biscuitmen | Accents at school | Michael Gove's honesty

Re Nesrine Malik's piece (Patriotism' is the last refuge of a scandalous government, 19 October), I've had a not unrelated experience with my local Tory MP. After some correspondence in which I asked why the government was resuming arms sales to Saudi Arabia despite an appeal court ruling, his final words to me were: If you want to support al-Qaida and IS, be my guest."
Maggie Winters
Benson, Oxfordshire

If the government believes those furloughed can exist on a (further reduced) percentage of previous income (Rishi Sunak to unveil fourth Covid support package for ailing firms, 21 October), it could set an example by reducing parliamentary salaries by the same percentage. After all, we are all in the same boat - aren't we?
Susan Hipperson
Haywards Heath, West Sussex