Beware what you wish for: Boris Johnson is unfit to lead

With regards your online op-ed Our obsession with political scandals is detracting from real burning issues (Jun e24), Boris Johnson is a popinjay who could precipitate a general election within a week of becoming British prime minister. He has difficulty speaking or writing plain English without inserting a Latin phrase to indicate that he once attended Eton College. However, his primary claim to notoriety stems from his abysmal tenure as foreign secretary, before being obliged to resign. This is the ex-foreign secretary who helped Iran convict a British citizen and mother because he was too lazy to read his own brief; a man who collects parking tickets like a foreign tourist in the belief that the law is not applicable to himself.

This is the politician who cannot be trusted to tell the truth and is considered by many within his own party to constitute a security risk; a man whose colourful personal life unfortunately leaves him susceptible to blackmail by a foreign state or by criminals. This is a man whose ambitions far exceed his personal abilities and his own integrity to achieve such goals. A man more suited to leading a stag party in Amsterdam rather than being the leader of the Conservative party or the UK prime minister. This is a man who, if elected by grassroots Conservatives to succeed Theresa May, would precipitate a general election and an almost certain Labour government. Of course, if that’s what you really want, then of course you must vote in this less-than-capable, unreliable politician – for a week. But it is as well to remember that it is by no means unknown for an attractive wrapper to hide a worm-ridden fruit.

Although Jeremy Hunt might not be as colourful as Boris Johnson, sometimes a man of integrity with a solid record of quiet responsibility and achievement is by far the wiser choice.

Hans Stehling, London

Space is the frontier that continues to challenge us

I write in reference to your article UAE space programme set to enter a new orbit (June 24). It is really important now to be in the race for space exploration and create an impact there. Space is the frontier that continues to challenge us. The UAE, with resources and talent, can take the first step with confidence. Great attention is needed for research and development.

Nazim Hasan Khan, India

Saudi airport attack adds fuel to dangerous situation

I write in reference to your online article UAE condemns deadly Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia's Abha airport (June 24). The recent terror attack that killed a Syrian expatriate and wounded seven innocent people has rightly been condemned across the globe. This is a sad and worrying state of affairs indeed.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru