A Point of View

Monica Ali discusses the UK's use of immigration detention centres and, in particular, indefinite detention. She argues that, although detention or deportation are sometimes necessary, the policy of indefinite detention is "callous and dehumanising". She believes - as the only place in Europe that allows indefinite detention - the UK should adopt the recommendations of a recent parliamentary report and introduce a 28 day limit. Producer: Adele Armstrong

"If you're a writer of colour", writes Monica Ali, "you're only supposed to write about what people imagine to be your self". "That self might be labelled as Asian writer, or Bangladeshi writer or BAME writer, but it is never labelled simply 'writer' - that would be the true privilege". Producer: Adele Armstrong

Val McDermid argues that - at a time when public discourse is so polarised - it's vital to keep our public libraries open. "A library card is a powerful weapon to change lives", Val writes. "With it, we learn how to value what we have, to mourn what we have lost and to dream of what we might become". She says that whatever we may hear about the death of libraries, we must ensure their future because they are "one of the few remaining places where a genuine diversity of voices can still be encountered". Producer: Adele Armstrong

David Goodhart argues that recent events show that democracy - far from being in crisis - is actually thriving. And in the aftermath of Teresa May announcing her resignation, David writes, "I think there is a great political prize for a politician or a party, old or new, that can speak across the liberal/small-c conservative value divide". Producer: Adele Armstrong

Val McDermid argues that if homelessness was classified as an illness, we'd be demanding a cure. She takes a walk round her home city to try to imagine what it would look like through the eyes of a homeless person. Producer: Adele Armstrong