Janet Perkins fears votes being cast for ‘hilarious’ Farage, but Dr John Fletcher thinks young people are more refreshing philosophers. Plus more letters on Labour’s plan to lower the voting age to 16

During the last general election, my grandson’s secondary school held a mock election in which the oldest students voted (Voting age to be lowered to 16 across UK by next general election, 17 July). The majority voted for Nigel Farage, not because of his policies, but because the students thought he was “hilarious”. To this result, my 16-year-old grandson said: “And that’s why they don’t give 16-year-olds the vote.”

Unless secondary schools and sixth forms start teaching politics and political systems in school and encourage the notion of informed debate, young voters will get their information from social media (and not from the Guardian app).

Janet Perkins fears votes being cast for ‘hilarious’ Farage, but Dr John Fletcher thinks young people are more refreshing philosophers. Plus more letters on Labour’s plan to lower the voting age to 16

During the last general election, my grandson’s secondary school held a mock election in which the oldest students voted (Voting age to be lowered to 16 across UK by next general election, 17 July). The majority voted for Nigel Farage, not because of his policies, but because the students thought he was “hilarious”. To this result, my 16-year-old grandson said: “And that’s why they don’t give 16-year-olds the vote.”

Unless secondary schools and sixth forms start teaching politics and political systems in school and encourage the notion of informed debate, young voters will get their information from social media (and not from the Guardian app).

Anthony Milton on the 2014 parliamentary vote in favour of recognising Palestinian statehood, and Liz Byrne on Nick Maynard’s article on the horror in Gaza

You report that Keir Starmer is under pressure from cabinet ministers to recognise Palestinian statehood (22 July). Should not the cabinet be reminded that in October 2014 parliament overwhelmingly passed a motion calling on the government to recognise the state of Palestine?

The vote – 274 in favour, 12 against – reflected strong parliamentary support across party lines. While the motion was non‑binding, it sent a clear political message that the majority of elected representatives supported Palestinian statehood. Ever since then, every prime minister has refused to implement that decision of parliament, generally saying that the time was not yet right.

Anthony Milton on the 2014 parliamentary vote in favour of recognising Palestinian statehood, and Liz Byrne on Nick Maynard’s article on the horror in Gaza

You report that Keir Starmer is under pressure from cabinet ministers to recognise Palestinian statehood (22 July). Should not the cabinet be reminded that in October 2014 parliament overwhelmingly passed a motion calling on the government to recognise the state of Palestine?

The vote – 274 in favour, 12 against – reflected strong parliamentary support across party lines. While the motion was non‑binding, it sent a clear political message that the majority of elected representatives supported Palestinian statehood. Ever since then, every prime minister has refused to implement that decision of parliament, generally saying that the time was not yet right.

An unread letter | Football writing | Spot-kick chaos | Arrested for satire | Wimbledon expansion

Reading your article on mix tapes (Letters, 20 July) reminded me of the opening line to a letter I received from a boy in 1960: “Before your feminine instinct tells you to destroy this letter…”. I read no further, putting it straight in the kitchen boiler to burn – and ever since I’ve agonised about what that handwritten four-page letter said.
Margaret Harris
Isleworth, London

• May I hand a rosette to your writer Jonathan Liew? His recent coverage of tennis shows how sportswriting in the right hands can be turned into an art form. Now he has produced another gem, this time on women’s football (The rise of Alessia Russo: a tale of talent, training and a moment seized, 21 July). And I don’t even like football.
Mary Fletcher
London

An unread letter | Football writing | Spot-kick chaos | Arrested for satire | Wimbledon expansion

Reading your article on mix tapes (Letters, 20 July) reminded me of the opening line to a letter I received from a boy in 1960: “Before your feminine instinct tells you to destroy this letter…”. I read no further, putting it straight in the kitchen boiler to burn – and ever since I’ve agonised about what that handwritten four-page letter said.
Margaret Harris
Isleworth, London

• May I hand a rosette to your writer Jonathan Liew? His recent coverage of tennis shows how sportswriting in the right hands can be turned into an art form. Now he has produced another gem, this time on women’s football (The rise of Alessia Russo: a tale of talent, training and a moment seized, 21 July). And I don’t even like football.
Mary Fletcher
London