WITH regard to recent comment by Julian Cole and Bob Waite on the burqa, and a national politician suggesting banning the veil as being un-British.

Banning this item of clothing is not the issue that should be debated. The crux is whether people living in this country should be allowed to cover their face and in my view the answer should be no.

Covering the face is disrespectful to those engaged in conversation and in extreme cases an aid to those of ill intent. A religious interpretation, pseudo or otherwise, should not allowed to obscure such a debate.

If only Parliament would pick up the baton.

Derek Chapplow, Middlethorpe Grove, York.

• MUCH has been said about whether the burqa should be banned in public. Yet another two abominations of fashion have been able to go about their business almost unnoticed. I refer to the two biggest threats to our civilisation today, namely those ridiculous hats that kids are wearing that cover just the back of their heads and their ears (it’s the middle of summer for goodness sake) and men wearing socks with sandals. Okay, so the hats may just be a short-term fashion disaster, but the socks and sandals thing has gone on far too long. Gentlemen your feet are either hot or they are cold... pick a lane!

Clive Gott, Toll Bar Way, Tadcaster.