After decades of 4.30am starts as a postie, I can assure Anita Chaudhuri that there is nothing magical or soul-cleaning about being an early riser (The cult of 5am: is rising at dawn the secret of health and happiness?, 8 July). It is lovely that the roads are empty for my ride to work, but the main perk is the 1pm finish. I am looking forward to retirement and getting up at a normal time.
Martine Frampton
Manchester
There’s strong scientific evidence that our chronotype – whether we are a morning lark or a night owl – has a genetic component, so Anita Chaudhuri may be fighting a losing battle. I rise at 5am, but I prefer to spend the first hour drinking tea and reading the Guardian.
David Harper
Cambridge
It’s no surprise that questions have been raised over whether some Reform candidates were real, given the total lack of information about them (Report, 8 July). In some Glasgow constituencies, there was no information about local candidates, but a leaflet came through letterboxes for the Reform candidate in another constituency.
Caroline McParland
Glasgow
Justine Greening hit the Tory nail on the head (Leaderless, rudderless, purposeless – the Tories have just one chance to stave off extinction, 8 July). In 1993, Norman Lamont said: “We [the Conservatives] give the impression of being in office but not in power.” Since 2010, this self-serving lot have been in power but not in office. Good riddance.
David Gomm
Witney, Oxfordshire
Could we please have your colourful constituency map (5 July) as a wallchart? It would be a useful Tory-free-travel planner.
Jim Golcher
Greens Norton, Northamptonshire
