Polly Toynbee’s challenge to the theory presented by the MP Miriam Cates at the National Conservatism conference, that a low UK birthrate is an outcome of “cultural Marxism”, is fair enough as far as it goes (The great British baby drought has a simple cause. And it’s not ‘cultural Marxism’, 18 May). Ms Toynbee is surely right to point to the withdrawal of practical state support and nurturing for young families as an important issue. But why doesn’t she mention the general atmosphere of foreboding and anxiety about the future (equally an outcome of years of Tory neglect and misrule) as an even more powerful influence? As an older person who has been involved during the past four years in an organisation campaigning for urgent action on the climate crisis, I have been frequently startled (and dismayed) by the statements of young people from the UK and other countries, who say that they are reluctant or afraid to have babies when future prospects look so uncertain and daunting. The conception of a child is surely first and foremost an expression of hope. Many young people simply don’t have enough confidence that the world is a safe enough place to bring a child into. Chris Neill Extinction Rebellion activist, Godalming, Surrey