Joseph Oakley says the Cambridge University college risks returning to an admissions culture that rewards advantage rather than potential, while Daisy Shaw urges state students not to give up the fight. Plus a letter from Prof Douglas Robinson

As a comprehensive-school-educated alumnus of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, I was dismayed to read your recent article on the college’s new admissions approach ( Cambridge college to target elite private schools for student recruitment, 7 January ).

I chose Trinity Hall precisely because of its inclusive, anti-elitist ethos. I arrived in Cambridge from the Midlands (an underrepresented geographic region) with a good state education, a passion for languages, but little understanding of the educational privilege enjoyed by many of my peers.

Joseph Oakley says the Cambridge University college risks returning to an admissions culture that rewards advantage rather than potential, while Daisy Shaw urges state students not to give up the fight. Plus a letter from Prof Douglas Robinson

As a comprehensive-school-educated alumnus of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, I was dismayed to read your recent article on the college’s new admissions approach ( Cambridge college to target elite private schools for student recruitment, 7 January ).

I chose Trinity Hall precisely because of its inclusive, anti-elitist ethos. I arrived in Cambridge from the Midlands (an underrepresented geographic region) with a good state education, a passion for languages, but little understanding of the educational privilege enjoyed by many of my peers.

Joseph Oakley says the Cambridge University college risks returning to an admissions culture that rewards advantage rather than potential, while Daisy Shaw urges state students not to give up the fight. Plus a letter from Prof Douglas Robinson

As a comprehensive-school-educated alumnus of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, I was dismayed to read your recent article on the college’s new admissions approach ( Cambridge college to target elite private schools for student recruitment, 7 January ).

I chose Trinity Hall precisely because of its inclusive, anti-elitist ethos. I arrived in Cambridge from the Midlands (an underrepresented geographic region) with a good state education, a passion for languages, but little understanding of the educational privilege enjoyed by many of my peers.

The power is in the hands of the DPP or the attorney general, writes Stephen Sedley . Plus Roshi Fernando on Keir Starmer’s unforgivable conduct

The prisons minister may justifiably say that temporary release for prisoners awaiting trial is a matter for an independent judiciary, but this by no means absolves the state of responsibility for the fate of those on hunger strike ( Health of Palestine Action hunger strikers deteriorating, supporters say, 6 January ).

Given the almost unbelievable length of time the court system apparently requires before it can try these cases, it is open to the director of public prosecutions or the attorney general to notify the defence lawyers that if a fresh application for bail is now made, they will cooperate in bringing it before the high court and at the hearing will not oppose the grant of bail.

The power is in the hands of the DPP or the attorney general, writes Stephen Sedley . Plus Roshi Fernando on Keir Starmer’s unforgivable conduct

The prisons minister may justifiably say that temporary release for prisoners awaiting trial is a matter for an independent judiciary, but this by no means absolves the state of responsibility for the fate of those on hunger strike ( Health of Palestine Action hunger strikers deteriorating, supporters say, 6 January ).

Given the almost unbelievable length of time the court system apparently requires before it can try these cases, it is open to the director of public prosecutions or the attorney general to notify the defence lawyers that if a fresh application for bail is now made, they will cooperate in bringing it before the high court and at the hearing will not oppose the grant of bail.

The power is in the hands of the DPP or the attorney general, writes Stephen Sedley . Plus Roshi Fernando on Keir Starmer’s unforgivable conduct

The prisons minister may justifiably say that temporary release for prisoners awaiting trial is a matter for an independent judiciary, but this by no means absolves the state of responsibility for the fate of those on hunger strike ( Health of Palestine Action hunger strikers deteriorating, supporters say, 6 January ).

Given the almost unbelievable length of time the court system apparently requires before it can try these cases, it is open to the director of public prosecutions or the attorney general to notify the defence lawyers that if a fresh application for bail is now made, they will cooperate in bringing it before the high court and at the hearing will not oppose the grant of bail.

Statement signed by 13 former senior officials condemns ‘unprecedented’ assault on Fed’s independence

• Trump’s attempts to influence Fed risk ‘70’s-style inflation and global backlash’

• Nils Pratley: US bond markets should be in revolt. Fed independence matters

Every living former head of the Federal Reserve condemned an “unprecedented” attempt by the Trump administration to weaken the US central bank’s independence, after the Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into its chair, Jerome Powell.

Ex-Fed chairs Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen warned similar prosecutorial attacks in other countries had led to “highly negative consequences” for the cost of living – and argued they had “no place” in the US.

Statement signed by 13 former senior officials condemns ‘unprecedented’ assault on Fed’s independence

• Trump’s attempts to influence Fed risk ‘70’s-style inflation and global backlash’

• Nils Pratley: US bond markets should be in revolt. Fed independence matters

Every living former head of the Federal Reserve condemned an “unprecedented” attempt by the Trump administration to weaken the US central bank’s independence, after the Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into its chair, Jerome Powell.

Ex-Fed chairs Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen warned similar prosecutorial attacks in other countries had led to “highly negative consequences” for the cost of living – and argued they had “no place” in the US.

Statement signed by 13 former senior officials condemns ‘unprecedented’ assault on Fed’s independence

• Trump’s attempts to influence Fed risk ‘70’s-style inflation and global backlash’

• Nils Pratley: US bond markets should be in revolt. Fed independence matters

Every living former head of the Federal Reserve condemned an “unprecedented” attempt by the Trump administration to weaken the US central bank’s independence, after the Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into its chair, Jerome Powell.

Ex-Fed chairs Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen warned similar prosecutorial attacks in other countries had led to “highly negative consequences” for the cost of living – and argued they had “no place” in the US.