Beer and bishops

Alex Orr ( Letters , 13 June) from Edinburgh might be engaged in a little magical thinking when he says "Scottish independence would be of huge benefit to the people of England". Under the current electoral system, the only likely outcome for our English cousins would be perpetual Tory rule. I might occasionally wind up my English pals by supporting whatever team England's playing but I wouldn't wish that nightmarish, hegemonic prospect on my worst enemies, far less my English pals. Alistair Richardson Stirling • The "democratic deficit" that the increasing private ownership of public spaces in cities creates is more profound than that identified in your feature ( Sold-off cities ..., 12 June). As in the case of Washington, Tyne and Wear, such privately controlled spaces can prevent the exercise of democratic politics, such as public protest. Perhaps we are approaching the time for another mass trespass? Steve Rouse Gee Cross, Cheshire • Jennifer Basannavar ( Letters , 12 June) asks where Michael Gove will find the language teachers. May I suggest France for French, Spain for Spanish …? Richard Wooller Lydney, Gloucestershire • So England finds it hard to define its own nationalism ( Letters , 13 June)? On the eve of Bloomsday might it turn in James Joyce's Ulysses to Stephen Dedalus's "Beer, beef, business, bibles, bulldogs, battleships, buggery and bishops"? John Doyle Broughshane, Co Antrim • Am I the only one to think Danny Boyle's having a laugh with his Blue Peter model of Merrie Englande? Even Tracey Island looked better ( The real Britain – Boyle gets down to grassroots for Games opening , 13 June). John McCartney Dereham, Norfolk • Why do there seem to be no mallard ducklings this year? Our local ponds have plenty of cygnets, baby coots and so on, but not a single duckling. A random poll of friends around Britain suggests no ducklings on their local ponds either. Is something sinister afoot? Susan Tomes London