Move on with Labour’s great helmsman | Letters

John McDonnell makes a very important point by brandishing Chairman Mao's Little Red Book in parliament (McDonnell throws the (Mao) book, 26 November). George Osborne is not just enabling the Chinese state to own British state assets. He is actually subsidising Chinese state enterprises to do so, as well as structuring UK public sector contracts in such a way as to favour the Chinese. What's more, with recent Chinese engagement in energy, he is effectively selling to China future UK tax revenues.
Nick Matthews
Rugby, Warwickshire

" Put aside the Red Book and instead concentrate on the real political issue. Do we think it's in Britain's best interests that swathes of our national infrastructure should be sold to foreign investors, be they companies or countries? Already we cannot plan for economic growth as we might wish because foreign multinationals own much of our business and industry, and, as we have discovered with our steel plants, the government cannot stop them when they choose to walk away leaving behind a trail of economic and social devastation. Our nuclear power industry is being upgraded with Chinese funding, but at what cost to our independence and security? Furthermore, just imagine the possibilities for economic or political blackmail if George Osborne sells air traffic control to one of his new friends. Whether or not the Little Red Book was a good idea, John Mc Donnell was absolutely right on the key issue to castigate the Tories for their plans to further sell off of our essential infrastructure.
Margaret Parker
Holmfirth, West Yorkshire