‘Base opinions on own research not social media’
I READ with interest K Wass’ letter last week about the incumbent Labour government.
My thoughts are that Mr Wass has misunderstood various issues.
Firstly, those who took part in the riots following the Southport murders were largely jailed for violent disorder, along with Lucy Connolly who was jailed for publishing written material that incited racial hatred.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prosecution Service was handling the case surrounding the assailants of the assault at Manchester Airport, which is why no-one wished to interfere (except Reform UK who tried to bring about their own private conviction). Since then two men have been charged.
With the winter fuel payments, they are being made means-tested meaning those who are most in need of the payment will still receive it.
But his remarks about the reaction Rachel Maclean would have received if she did such a thing are interesting given that making the winter fuel payments means-tested featured in the 2017 Conservative manifesto, which Ms Maclean stood on.
Alas we have legal commitments to achieving Net Zero which the previous Conservative government did not seem too bothered about sticking to.
Regarding the Chagos Islands, Mr Wass doesn’t seem to be aware the military base remains with the USA and ourselves – it is merely the territory that Mauritius will take control of.
But the UK’s territorial claim to the islands was not supported by United Nation’s International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion on the current government and their policies.
I would advise people however to form their own opinions through their own research instead of relying on hearsay and misleading information on social media.
Liam Kane
‘Expectation is low compared to London’
JUST a couple of comments regarding last week’s letters.
I agree totally with devolution in relation to local government, and in particular the abolition of two-tier local authorities like we have here in Redditch.
I hope, though, that we are allowed the same ratio of councillors per capita, as enjoyed by London residents in their small London boroughs that have been in place for many years.
I was a London resident for many years and, on my relocation here in 2008, immediately noticed the gap in representation and even worse, funding of local services.
Expectations of residents was very low compared to those in London.
It was clear to me, working in education locally, that residents did not expect enough of public services across the board.
This was the case in relation to anything from missed bins to schools pupil outcomes and achievements and NHS services. Funding was, and remains, part of the problem.
My second point relates to a letter from K Wass where many points made derive from conspiracy theories and global misinformation that originate often from very unreliable sources in the USA.
I realise that this is a readers’ opinions letter page, but would expect any responsible media organisation to take a more responsible approach when selecting letters for publication.
These kinds of opinions have the potential to cause massive harm to communities such as those served by your publication.
Jayne Sillitoe
Astwood Bank
EDITOR’S NOTE
We fact-check letters when they are submitted and edit accordingly if incorrect information has been submitted or views of hate and discrimination are expressed.
With regard to perception of situations and speculation, we feel it is important to enable our letter writers to put across their points of view and honestly-held opinion as freely and fairly as possible.
Readers and letter writers are then given the right to reply to those views, the following week, as you have done.
When we receive feedback from readers, we are often commended for this vibrant letters page which many readers and writers tell us they enjoy.
In order to maintain this level of interesting debate on such a variety of topics, we feel it is important to enable people to express their opinions as freely as possible.
‘More hope than fact’
THE CLAIM Ed Milliband’s plan ‘will also unlock £40billion of private investment every year’ is no more than wishful thinking. According to the National Energy System Operator (NESO) it needs at least that much but no suggestion is made as to how this will be raised.
Even this vast sum assumes there will be a halving in the cost of wind farms, this reduction is also hopeful rather than evidence based.
NESO claims energy consumption can be reduced by ‘demand flexibility’ (newspeak for energy rationing).
Increasingly antiquated nuclear power stations will be required as a back up, along with gas fired power stations which have to be kept going for when the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine.
As has been well documented, the pylons, cables and other infrastructure required – much of it Chinese made using energy from coal fired power stations – will destroy the bits of the countryside Labour hasn’t set aside for housing schemes. All of this foolishness will be paid for by higher energy bills – not really putting consumers first.
As for the thousands of putative jobs created, these may possibly offset the thousands lost by cutting back on North Sea oil and gas production, maybe, unless increased employer NI contributions prevents it.
K Wass
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