Readers on Diane Abbott’s suspension from the Labour party after she said in a radio interview that she had no regrets about previous remarks about racism

It is ironic that Diane Abbott finds herself twice censured on the topic of racism. However, her situation involves more than just the “clumsy” letter to the Observer in 2023 and the radio interview last week referred to by Jason Okundaye (The Diane Abbott row shows how impoverished Britain’s conversations about race have become, 18 July).

Blackness may make some of us more easily visible to those with racist attitudes than some other racialised groups, but Abbott should have recognised that her attempt to explain this on Radio 4 was doomed by her declaration that she had no regrets about the earlier incident.

Even without a doctor’s note or a thick wallet, anyone can engage in these scientifically-backed anti-inflammatory activities

A growing number of products and routines – like red light masks and de-puffing regimens – claim to fight the signs of inflammation. Many nutritional methods have proven to help chronic inflammation, too – such as eating a vegetable-heavy Mediterranean diet or more whole grains and omega-3-rich fish.

But cost and access issues can get in the way of these solutions. Plus, they may not address a major root cause, as increasing evidence says chronic stress can induce chronic inflammation.

Julia Hotz is a solutions-focused journalist and award-winning author of The Connection Cure

In a retro-futurist version of early 1960s New York, Mr Fantastic and Sue Storm are living together as a dysfunctional family with the Human Torch and the Thing – with a baby on the way

Baby steps, in fact. Marvel has rediscovered the lighthearted dimension of superheroism, the buoyant fun and the primary colour comedy – as opposed to the wiseacre supercool of, say, Guardians of the Galaxy. Here it has amusingly brought back the Fantastic Four in their early years (but not to the very beginning) in a retro-futurist version of early 1960s New York where no one smokes. Hilariously, the Four are of course living together as a family in a bizarre hi-tech apartment, like something in TV’s Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie, often wearing their comfy blue pyjama-style outfits.

Scientist Dr Reed “Mr Fantastic” Richards, whose nickname rather oversells his peculiar superpower of stretchiness, is played by Pedro Pascal in a lighter vocal register than usual; he’s married to Sue “Invisible Woman” Storm – played by Vanessa Kirby. They are basically mom and dad to a couple of guys who are to all intents and purposes teen boys: Sue’s brother Johnny “Human Torch” Storm (played by Joseph Quinn) and superstrong Ben Grimm played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach. They are essentially two grown men who live with Reed and Sue in a cheerfully infantilised state, and what complicates things is that Sue is now suddenly pregnant long after the couple had given up hoping. (There is apparently no IVF in this alt-reality universe.)

Paul WB Marsden, Sheila Cross and Margaret Waddingham on Labour’s decision to remove the whip from four MPs

As a former Labour MP who treated the whips with the contempt they deserved in October 2001 (the chief whip told me that war is not a matter of conscience), I feel qualified to judge Keir Starmer’s clumsy submission for the Stalinist of the Year award (Keir Starmer removed Labour whip from four ‘persistent rebel’ MPs, 16 July).

Starmer fails to topple the megalomaniac Donald Trump for the honour, since the prime minister considers an MP’s three votes against the government over 12 months, out of 271 divisions, as being “persistent”. The rebels aren’t persistent – they are principled.
Paul WB Marsden
Oakenholt, Flintshire

Mike Seddon says Forestry England is planning 100 years ahead to ensure that the right tree is in the right place

Alastair Collier is right to point out that to build forests that can withstand future conditions, we must invest in resilience from the outset (Letters, 17 July). At Forestry England, forest resilience is our most critical challenge. We must ensure the nation’s 1,500 forests in our care can withstand and adapt to the threats facing them, including climate change, biodiversity loss, extreme weather, and pests and diseases.

We are doing this by planning 100 years ahead in the way we manage these beautiful places, which are home to some of the UK’s rarest wildlife. For example, based on rigorous scientific analysis, we have identified the top 30 tree species that will thrive in future environments. This is guiding our investment in our tree nursery and is helping us to ensure that the right tree is in the right place, both today and in the future.

Incentives for good behaviour | Writing to royals | Sterilising light switches | ‘Vaccine hesitancy’ | Always against genocide

I have a solution to the problem of stolen Lime bikes (Hackney birdsong? Stolen Lime bikes the new sound of summer in the city, 20 July): make them free for 14- to 18-year-olds, and offer rewards for parking them properly – maybe points adding up to free fast food. No more beeping, no more bikes across pavements, and an incentive for teenagers to exercise.
Corin Ashwell
London

• Aged nine, I wrote to Queen Elizabeth II and John Major, then prime minister, suggesting that weapons factories be used to make toys (My four-year-old has invited King Charles over for ice-cream. Can someone please make it happen?, 16 July). I was astounded to get a positive reply from Buckingham Palace. At least they had read the letter; Downing Street gave me advice on becoming prime minister.
Frances Willmott
Liverpool