Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.
‘Councils should be required to charge extra council tax on London’s vacant properties’
I read Sir Keir Starmer’s replies to readers’ housing questions (Metro, Fri).
In reply to one about empty flats in London, Sir Keir said the government was ‘encouraging councils to use the tools available to them… they can charge additional council tax on vacant properties’.
I would suggest they should be ‘requiring’, rather than ‘encouraging’.
The fact is that additional council tax is a drop in the ocean to many property investors.
With certain limitations, such properties should be commandeered by the council. Ian Douglas, London
The future of the UK’s ‘little boxes’
‘They will become the overcrowded slums of the 22nd century’
The ‘little boxes’ of the 21st century – small houses crammed in cheek by jowl with little to no garden – provide little in the way of quality of life.
High-density housing areas have also often been associated with much higher crime rates.
They make no long-term sense in an era of ever-increasing population, falling disposable income and a failing health service and will become the overcrowded slums of the 22nd century, ripe for demolition just as so many Victorian tenements were in the 20th century. Brian, Dartford
The sad clown paradox
‘As somebody who has had bouts of depression my advice is – walk.’
Further to comedy being prescribed on the NHS to combat depression (Metro, Thu)…
Shoulders slumped, head down, the stranger shuffles across the doctor’s office and slumps down in the chair.
‘You must help me I feel terrible.’
‘Obviously you are depressed. I could give you a prescription but the circus is in town this week. Twenty minutes watching Grimaldi the Clown will do you more good than my pills.’ ‘But doctor, I am Grimaldi the Clown…’
As somebody who has had bouts of depression my advice is – walk.
Ideally, walk in the country or in a park but just pounding the mean streets of a town or city will dissipate the energy of your frustration, give you an appetite and a sense of achievement. Frank Wallis, via email
What will Sir Keir do?
‘Will Sir Keir also ask for minerals or will Rachel Reeves just put up taxes?’
The US wants valuable minerals from Ukraine to pay for military hardware it has provided (Metro, Mon). The UK has also sent huge military aid, running our own stocks down to dangerous lows. Will Sir Keir also ask for minerals or will Rachel Reeves just put up taxes again? Giles, London
Will Putin claim Alaska?
‘the Russian president can claim history is on his side.’
Crimea has already been annexed by Vladimir Putin, the rest of Ukraine is in his sights.
How will Donald Trump react when Putin demands the immediate and unconditional return of Alaska to Russia? As usual, the Russian president can claim history is on his side.
The territory was first colonised by Russian settlers in the 18th century and sold to the US in 1867 to raise funds to re-equip Tsar Alexander II’s armed forces after defeat in the 1853-56 Crimean war. John, Manchester
40 Days To Life
‘a US anti-abortion group is planning a protest outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow.’
I was alarmed to hear that a US anti-abortion group is planning a protest outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow. Perhaps it’s time to consider tariffs on this latest import from the US – culture wars. Tony Howarth, London
