The UK would not be an outlier if it allowed refugees to work – and doing so would bring a net benefit to the economy, writes Pete Winstanley

Rather than launching a “blitz” on asylum seekers working illegally, the government should allow them to work legally (Home Office announces ‘nationwide blitz’ on asylum seekers taking jobs, 5 July).

An investigation by the Commission on the Integration of Refugees found that providing free English classes on arrival, involving local councils and communities in resettling refugees and allowing asylum seekers to work if their claims remain undecided after six months would yield a net benefit to the economy of £1.2bn within five years (Proper jobs, English classes and a refugee minister – this is how to fix Britain’s asylum system, 20 March 2024).

An embassy in West Germany | Norman Tebbit | Penis reduction | The Salt Path

I can testify to the accuracy of John le Carré’s research, which you note with reference to a new exhibition at Oxford’s Bodleian libraries (8 July). When researching British foreign policy, I spent a day in the embassy in Bonn in 1973. It struck me as so much like its portrayal in A Small Town in Germany that I remarked that if someone came pushing the registry trolley I would not be surprised to hear it squeak, as he had described it. “It’s a pity you weren’t here two or three years ago,” came the reply, “you would have recognised several of the characters as well.”
William Wallace
Liberal Democrat, House of Lords

• I was never a fan of Norman Tebbit (Obituaries, 8 July) but an ex briefly worked security at Conservative HQ and had nothing but praise for him as the only person who said hello and goodbye to everyone by name every day.
Michelle Kimber
Plymouth

Latest threats heighten fears that the president’s erratic trade strategy risks exacerbating inflation across the US

• US politics live – latest updates

Donald Trump continued to fire off letters threatening steep US tariffs on foreign exports, targeting countries including Brunei, Liyya and Moldova.

The US president had been scheduled to hike tariffs on dozens of countries today. Earlier this week he announced a fresh three-week delay, to 1 August, but started announcing new rates that countries would face unless they strike a deal with the White House.

• Slovenian opens clear gap to rival Jonas Vingegaard

• Evenepoel takes stage win in blistering run around Caen

Tadej Pogacar struck the first blow in his rivalry with Jonas Vingegaard, taking the race lead in the 2025 Tour de France, after finishing second to Remco Evenepoel in the stage five time trial in Caen.

Pogacar’s performance exceeded expectations and will have hit home hard on Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease a bike team bus, with the double Tour winner now well over a minute behind his Slovenian rival, after only five days of racing.

Kemi thinks the Tories left the country in fine shape and Labour have ruined it. Keir thinks the opposite. Yawn

Spare a thought for Rachel Reeves. After last week’s mini-meltdown during prime minister’s questions, the chancellor is now condemned to spend the next year grinning manically every time she’s out and about in public. Having a bad day at the office? GRIN. Had a row with the kids? GRIN. Now there is no escape.

To make it worse, you now get endless colleagues patting you on the shoulder and looking you deep in the eyes as they ask if you’re OK. When you just want to be left alone. GRIN. Everything is fine. Couldn’t be more normal. Sometimes it’s no fun being a politician.

Overall this was a positive tournament for home players, with Raducanu’s progress clear, but others disappointed

In the end, Cameron Norrie’s run to the latter rounds of Wimbledon was shut down with ruthless efficiency. Up against the two-time defending champion in full bloom, serving as well as he ever has, there was not much that Norrie could do against Carlos Alcaraz.

Every defeat is paired with disappointment, but the quality of Norrie’s performances throughout the past few weeks meant he was able immediately to reflect happily on another positive step forward. His quarter-final finish is the second-best grand slam result of his career after his run to the semi-finals here in 2022.