‘Politicians treating us like total idiots’
I WATCHED Rachel Maclean on BBC’s Question Time on March 21 with increasing levels of despair at her inability to be honest or transparent with the British people and her constituents.
Let’s be fair. ‘Send for Rachel’ to appear on TV and defend the indefensible has long been Government policy.
In the past she has been an apologist for the dishonesty of Johnson, the nonsense of Truss and now for the idiocy of Sunak including the recent defence an allegedly racist donor.
I guess that is how you get to be promoted as deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.
So let’s look at the facts for a change and hopefully Rachel will take these on board.
The Rwanda bill is not being blocked just by Labour in the House of Lords but by a cross-party alliance including some senior Conservative peers making sensible amendments.
This is because in its current form it does not comply with UK law (Supreme Court) or international law. Because Sunak says a country is ‘safe’ it doesn’t mean it is.
And let’s dispel the nonsense that the European Court of Human Rights – to which the UK has been a signatory since 1951- is anything to do with the EU.
It isn’t and exists party to protect citizens from abuse of power by Government and amongst other things protects our rights to freedom of speech, assembly and religion – some of which have recently been under attack from the Tory Government.
Every country in Europe except Belarus and Russia is a signatory and it’s decisions are legally binding on all signatories.
Turning now to the immigration figures. Because of Government policy since Brexit the number of visas granted in 2023 –mainly for work and study purposes – reached 1.4million with net migration at 745,000 in 2022 the last year for which figures are available
The ‘Small Boats’ which is a really a humanitarian crisis amounted to 30,000 people.
Obviously robust action should be taken against the smugglers and this is not just a UK problem.
No mention of this by Mrs Maclean of course.
I am personally sick and tired of these lightweight politicians treating us like total idiots and basically ripping us off. We deserve better.
I Welch,
Redditch
‘Tories wrong to use council for leaflets’
READERS have written to challenge claims made in the local Conservatives’ recently-published ‘In Touch’ leaflet.
I am concerned about the way this leaflet was distributed. I received one inside the ‘Your Worcestershire’ magazine from Worcestershire County Council.
Did the Conservatives pay for this method of distribution?
Even if they did, it cannot be acceptable that they take advantage of a publicly-funded information exercise to circulate party political material, particularly just before the local elections.
John Upton,
Redditch
‘Sightsavers continue to transform lives’
AS the Head of Trusts and Corporate Partnerships at international development organisation Sightsavers, I see many people taking action to drive positive social change.
Players of People’s Postcode Lottery in Midlands are among those whose generosity I applaud.
Since 2018 players across Britain have raised more than £14 million for Sightsavers.
This money has helped achieve numerous cataract operations, and eyesight tests for people in some of the world’s poorest countries.
My sincerest gratitude extends to the people of Midlands for helping transform lives.
Lives like Luyando, a young girl in Zambia who had cataracts in both eyes, and was bullied at school due to her vision impairment.
Her eyesight has been restored thanks to Sightsavers’ project offering free cataract surgeries and training local eye health staff.
Our projects bring immense relief to countless families like Luyando’s, and are possible thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
We thank them for helping make our vision of leaving no one behind a reality.
Any readers interested in supporting our vision can visit www.sightsavers.org for more information.
Morna Lane,
Head of Trusts and Corporate Partnerships,
Sightsavers
‘So many are reliant on Dial-a-Ride service’
I am a person with disabilities and was commenting on the Redditch Standard Facebook Page about the Redditch Conservatives increase in Dial-a-Ride prices.
When along came the Tory Deputy Mayor Karen Ashley and she abruptly informed me that “the council isn’t a taxi service”
Many people are reliant on Dial-a-Ride will now be left isolated and unable to get out and about and yet this is their attitude.
I hope the Redditch Conservatives feel proud of themselves for such a disgraceful act and uncaring response to people like myself with disabilities.
People might like to think about this when casting their votes in May.
A Berry,
Redditch
EDITORS COMMENT
THE FRUSTRATION and anger expressed by campaigner Kirsty Southwell regarding maternity and children’s services at the Alexandra Hospital is perfectly justifiable.
With a town the size of Redditch and the surrounding areas, it deserves to have those services in its local hospital.
Healthcare bosses – if they do not agree to their return – are instigating a postcode lottery whereby those in the southern part of Worcestershire are getting preferential treatment to those in the north.
This situation has to change.
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