Stuart Baker suggests in his letter (31 Jan) that the “general public” may like to boycott events surrounding any state visit by the US President Donald Trump. MPs and Lords should take note and absent themselves from parliament when Trump is due to address them. He can then deliver his speech to an empty chamber.

Anthony Ingleton, Sheffield

In your Editorial (The Government must not ignore the anger that Trump has provoked, 31 Jan) you write: “Having long ago passed a million signatories, the petition is becoming a symbol of liberal dissent.”

In the same edition, Rupert Cornwell (Republican silence over immigration is deafening) writes: “And whatever the outcry in the liberal citadels along the coasts, Trump voters in the heartlands and the rust belt states that gave him victory presumably are delighted by the anti-refugee clampdown.”

Is not such a refugee and immigrant clampdown just what many Brexit supporters yearn for in this country? I despair as we become an increasingly fractured society while I am advised to “get over it” and delight in Trump being toasted in Buckingham Palace.

Mike Jones, Address supplied

Perhaps President Trump would more effectively protect those living in the Unites States if he addressed the issue of gun control as soon as possible.

James Bell, Belgium

Who speaks for people with a learning disability?

In reference to James Moore’s article, (The UK is about to be investigated by the UN for its shameful treatment of disabled people – but does the Government care, 30 January), it is worth noting that Penny Mordaunt is the sixth Minister for the Disabled in six years! Well, that’s not strictly accurate. Since 2010 there have been three Ministers of State for Disabled People and three Parliamentary Secretaries for Disabled People. The average length of time of the person holding this brief has been one year - scarcely time enough to master it. An ideal arrangement for a civil service predisposed to maintaining the status quo. From an examination of the biographies of appointees to this post none have possessed what one might regard as relevant knowledge, qualifications or experience in the field of disability.

Who then is speaking for people with a disability? The country’s largest disability charities - Mencap, Scope, Sense, Leonard Cheshire and Mind - have been accused of ‘selling out’ disabled people. The fact that these charities have been invited to play a significant role in providing back-to-work services under the government’s new Work and Health Programme is significant. It would seem that criticism of government policy could lead to a charity forfeiting the chance of securing a contract with the result that its continued existence could be threatened. But the loss of an effective voice from the established charities is not the only problem. There is also a strong likelihood that the government may discontinue its funding of the National Forum for People with Learning Disabilities and the National Valuing Families Forum from April 2017.

So who now speaks for people with a learning disability? Not I would venture to suggest the current Minister for the Disabled.

Robin Jackson, Address supplied

Weetabix, how will you price yours?

I read with interest the news that Weetabix may find it necessary to raise their prices because of the falling value of sterling. I don’t remember them announcing price cuts last year when the pound was strong and the price of wheat was at its lowest for several years. They make it easy to become sceptical.