I WAS absolutely gobsmacked to see Rachel Maclean MP claiming personal glory for ‘intervening’ in the exam results fiasco (www.redditchstandard.co.uk).
Such a spectacular U-turn that I’m surprised our MP didn’t get whiplash.
Only five days earlier she posted on social media asserting that the Ofqual algorithm “has been very carefully designed to be fair and that there was no statistically significant difference in the attainment gap this year as compared with last on the basis of relative socio- economic advantage nor ethnicity.”
There are no official examinations to qualify a Member of Parliament but I’m afraid to report that because of the inconsistent evidence which has been submitted, Mrs Maclean has certainly failed this particular test.
S Harvey, Southcrest
AT PDSA, the UK’s leading vet charity, we provide life-saving care to pets in need and believe no pet should suffer due to financial hardship.
But the coronavirus pandemic has left us facing a national crisis.
With the country plunged into financial uncertainly, and more than a million extra Universal Credit claims, we expect the number of pets needing our help to increase by around 50,000.
So support from local animal lovers is needed now more than ever.
We’re urging dog owners and their four-legged friends to put their best paw forward and support our vital service by signing up to the World Big Dog Walk Challenge.
All you need to do is choose a suitable distance for you and your dog to complete during September.
This could be your regular ‘walkies’ route or why not stretch yourself and take on a more challenging distance?
Whatever it is, every small step will make a big difference to the lives of poorly pets in desperate need of life-saving treatment.
Visit www.pdsa.org.uk/worldbigdogwalk for more information.
L James, PDSA Vet
REGARDING proposals for the weekly collection of food waste by Redditch Borough Council (Redditch Standard).
This screams out pest control issues as we already don’t have enough space for wheelie bins.
Some streets already look a mess with all the bins by the roadside.
Decomposing food will be left in caddies outside especially in weather like we are currently having and begin to smell and attract unwanted pests/vermin.
Oh, and we will be paying for this also.
CT Redditch
I AM writing in praise of Steve Pound who was stabbed recently (Redditch Standard).
It takes a lot of courage to speak out, especially when something as traumatic as being stabbed has happened to you.
Steve nearly lost his life.
Every day there are reports of knife crime in this country and the situation is getting worse.
When I was a kid we carried penknives to whittle a stick or play ‘chicken’ not to go around stabbing people.
I blame the massive reduction in police by the ‘party of law and order’ at the start of the 2000s.
Yes I know they were in coalition but everyone knows it was David Cameron pulling the strings.
It’s resulted in a climate of fear among people who’s only solution to it is to go out armed.
Please, it’s time to say enough is enough and make our streets safe again.
R Webster, Headless Cross
THANK you to the organisers of Redditch School Uniform Bank, it was very well recieved with lots of families benefiting from it. The band playing was enjoyed by all. You are doing a fantastic job by helping the community.
Dr N Patel, Southcrest
FOR many years I’ve seen food thrown on the Church Green in the misguided belief that only pigeons benefit from the free food.
Unfortunately most is not suitable for pigeon but great for rats.
I sat on a gravestone closest to Lloyds Bank and watched a rat gather discarded bread to eat at leisure in a hedge.
I do wish residents will stop feeding vermin; rats and pigeons alike.
Pip, Redditch
