In linking Suella Braverman and the current Conservative party with nihilism (Suella Braverman is sunk, and so are the Tories: a party of nihilists, led by a loser, 13 November), you do nihilism a disservice. Nihilism, as a political movement, was progressive, based as it was on socialism and reason, which are hardly trademarks of the Conservatives. George Gay Reigate, Surrey Re your article ( What will Esther McVey bring to cabinet as the ‘commonsense tsar’?, 14 November), is Esther McVey’s appointment an open admission that common sense is sadly lackingin the rest of the cabinet? Margaret Coupe Longnor, Staffordshire What next? Esther McVey’s GB News colleague John Cleese as minister for silly walks? Ruth Eversley Paulton, Somerset John Crace’s remarkable distillation of Nadine Dorries’ book (Digested read, 8 November) confirms the high-order crafting skills ironically involved in mimicking mindless drivel. Mark de Brunner Burn Bridge, North Yorkshire My mother also considered condensed milk to be a treat (Letters, 13 November). She would pour some into a cup and lick it from a teaspoon. My dad preferred bread and dripping sprinkled with salt. David Rose Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham Re your report that fewer children in England are having teeth out since sugar tax began (Report, 15 November), could this be because they can’t get a dentist? Sue Brennan Bower Hinton, Somerset