‘Rachel would have cheered on Tories too’
I ALWAYS read the letters to the editor with interest. In last week’s edition, I noted another from our former MP, Rachel Maclean.
Now I accept and support the view that everyone has a right to be heard but with regard to the last paragraph of her missive, I feel some balance is due.
She berates our current MP Chris Bloore for ‘cheering on the Chancellor during her Budget speech’.
May I remind readers that Ms Maclean was an active supporter of Liz Truss so no doubt she herself cheered on the Budget speech given by Kwasi Kwartang.
We all know how that ended.
Dr David Cox,
Oakenshaw Road,
Redditch
‘We need more focus on those who have not’
TWO SIMILAR problems were discussed on your letters page last week. Both concern how parents provide for their children.
Firstly, one in four children experienced poverty in the last year.
This equates to 3.4million children whose parents could not provide sufficient food, leading to the immediate problem of not having enough to eat.
Secondly, while farmers can leave £1.3million in assets to their children completely tax-free, they will now pay tax on any amount above that threshold (which is increased to £2.6million for couples).
This may lead to difficult, once-in-a-generation decisions for the 500 farms affected each year.
While I thank Rachel Maclean for highlighting the potential difficulties for farmers, I personally think the first priority of politicians should be not the few with the problem of too much, but the many with the problem of too little.
Oliver Hale
‘Time to stop treating voters as gullible fools’
I READ your headline in the Redditch Standard – £5million Redditch Arts and Cultural award by the previous Government withdrawn by Labour.
However, both the Labour council leader and MP for Redditch simply claim disappointment at the decision.
These unedifying court jesters set out their predicted and typical lame excuses, blaming others, in an attempt to hoodwink their electorate calling for their own Government decision to be reversed.
As it was made only a few days ago, the best of luck with this one.
The ‘angry’ MP proceeds to claim the £5m award now withdrawn to be unfunded when his own Labour Budget spending itself was totally unfunded, contrary to their manifesto promises, ‘fully funded fully costed’ but now depending upon extensive taxation and borrowing for its resolution.
These overconfident ‘leaders’ now in place need to face reality, attempt to be convincing and stop treating those who elected them as gullible fools.
W Rochester,
Redditch
‘Tory hypocrisy all to evident at council’
The sight of the Tory party grandstanding about the winter fuel allowance in full council on Monday night was like seeing a greedy public school boy shout ‘cake thief’ with a mouth full of Battenburg.
When they left office 7.6million people couldn’t get GP appointments, hospital operation waiting lists were at an all-time high and Sunak was muttering about moving away from the triple lock.
This government has put £470-a-year more more in pensioners’ pockets, funded an extra 40,000 doctors’ appointments and opened hospital theatres at weekends and in evenings to start getting pensioners the NHS operations they deserve.
The Tories need to go away and think about the mess they have left for others to clean up rather than try to double down on their usual hypocrisy.
Maybe they should spend a little less time writing pompous motions and a little more supporting local residents through a tough winter.
Coun Ian Woodall, Labour,
Headless Cross and Oakenshaw
‘RNIB elves aim to help Santa share the fun’
I AM thrilled to share two exciting pieces of news.
First, I’m honoured to have been announced as an Ambassador for RNIB (the Royal National Institute of Blind People). And second, it’s nearly my absolute favourite time of the year again – Christmas.
I can already feel the festive magic in the air as I prepare my elf outfit and get ready to indulge in all the seasonal treats.
For those of us living with sight loss, being part of the Christmas fun is just as important.
From wrapping gifts and decorating the tree to helping children write their letters to Santa, we all deserve to share in that festive joy.
It’s especially magical when children (and adults) with vision impairments can have the same experiences as their sighted friends.
That’s why my fellow elves, working closely with Santa himself, have teamed up with RNIB again this year. Together, we’re making sure Santa’s letters are accessible for all children with vision impairments.
Last Christmas, the elves sent 1,604 letters from Santa to children across the UK, in braille, large print, and audio. It’s such a beautiful way to ensure that every child gets to feel the wonder and magic of Christmas.
If you know a child with a vision impairment who would love to receive a letter from Santa, they can write to him at: Santa Claus, RNIB, Northminster House, Northminster, Peterborough, PE1 1YN.
You can also request letters online at www.rnib.org.uk/santa.
Postal letters and online requests need to be in by December 1. Santa can even respond by email with a large print attachment, Letters need to be sent to [email protected] by December 19.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!
Chief Elf Claire Sisk
We welcome your letters….
We welcome your letters for the Redditch Standard on any subject.
Email them to [email protected]
EDITORS COMMENT
THE NEWS that Redditch’s main town centre Post Office could be closed is a blow to so many people, mostly elderly and vulnerable, who rely on its lifeline service.
That is why we have joined town MP Chris Bloore for the Save Redditch Post Office campaign.
The only way we can truly show the strength of feeling about the decision is by as many people as possible signing the petitions – either on the MP’s website or at our offices in Redditch town centre.
