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
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