I HAVE sent this letter to Rachel Maclean MP.
For many weeks, we have been urged by spokespersons for HM Government to await the outcome of the Metropolitan Police investigations and the Sue Gray report into gatherings held in Number 10, when draconian restrictions applied across the UK.
Now that both processes have concluded, I want you to understand the anger I feel about these events, not only concerning the behaviour of Downing Street staff, but the failure of political and moral leadership by the Prime Minister.
In the statement to the House of Commons (May 25), the PM says he takes full responsibility for the events that took place, yet he has throughout asserted he was unaware these events were happening – despite the fact he attended some of them.
I am sure you understand that in business and public life, the culture and values of organisations are a function and responsibility of leadership, and the essence of Sue Gray’s report is that the senior leadership, including the PM, presided over a culture of impunity in which restrictions which applied to the rest of us were widely ignored.
In November 2020, my brother died in hospital in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
I was not able to visit him whilst he was there, and following his death, his family were unable to hold a proper funeral.
This was the experience of many thousands of people, who obeyed both the spirit and the letter of the regulations in place at the time.
Did staff and political leadership consider they were above the law?
Did they – and do they still – hold the British public in such contempt that they believe these restrictions only applied to the rest of us?
Many of your Conservative party colleagues assert that ‘it’s time to move on’ and there are ‘other priorities’.
How can we do that when there is such a moral vacuum at the head of government?
Given the shackles of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, it seems that only you and your colleagues can bring about a change of leadership, so I hope you will set aside your current political loyalties, and do the right thing.
P Roberts, Redditch
I HAVE just been watching the Parliamentary version of ‘Would I lie to you?’.
It featured Boris the Bumbler.
Strangely the Treasury benches were very poorly occupied as regards backbenchers.
Apart from one or two sycophants like Dr Caroline Johnson MP. I didn’t notice our representative, a junior minister, perhaps she was keeping her head down.
What really gets me is how can anybody appear in the same chamber as Boris Johnson?
Surely it is time for the Opposition to walk out when the PM stands to make a statement.
D Vincent, Winyates
SO M James and a bunch of other excitable scribblers attack Rachel Maclean’s view that a better paid job will help meet rising costs (Letters).
Well, I’ve never aspired to be an economist but using my new Fisher Price abacus and an ‘Ever-Sharp’ brand pencil ( £3 including VAT from W H Smith) it seems to me that earning more means you can spend more.
I’ve double checked this with Mr Smith at the bank and he says it’s right – and he should know as he drives a very nice car, drinks only the finest gin and plays golf every weekend even when it’s raining.
H Bellaby, Feckenham
REGARDING MP Rachel Maclean’s recent Sky interview where she complained about their ‘highly inaccurate and irresponsible reporting’. It’s hard to believe she complained about this, given her and the Tories ongoing support to a Prime Minister who does this week in week out, lying or selectively using statistics such as 50+ hospitals being built, when we all know the truth.
It’s not acceptable for any MP to receive threats, but let me use my experience from last Monday morning to explain why there is such a frustration and ill-feeling towards Tory politicians.
My wife and I do a pre-work walk around Arrow Valley lake most mornings.
Last Monday morning at 6.45am, we said hello to Nick, the Birdman, who feeds the local ducks and geese twice a day, and saw he was badly beaten.
Unbelievably, this had happened within the hour, when a dog not on a lead was chasing ducklings/goslings. He shooed the dog away, and as a consequence it appears its owner attacked him. It’s just heart-breaking.
We called both the police and ambulance on 999, reporting what happened. The ambulance service said they’d try and get there within an hour and the police would treat it as high priority.
Three of us waited 1 hour and 15 mins, but no-one came – no emergency services, nothing. It took a very kind gentleman to drive the injured man to the Alex in his own car.
I immediately wrote to Rachel Maclean. Her reply totally ignored my point of misrepresentation of statistics, instead offering to take this matter up with the emergency services, and provided more unverified statistics, telling me how good the Government is doing, despite my recent experience.
She just doesn’t seem to realise the damage done to our emergency services when The Tories slashed police numbers since 2010 – and the consequent massive loss of experience and expertise.
I just want this Government to provide adequate funding and staffing levels for our emergency services.
A Kelly, Redditch
