Will the General Election bring change or more of the same?
In today’s MetroTalk, readers are wondering if the upcoming general election will finally bring some change or if we’ll just see more of the same.
One reader wants us to remember the challenges the Tories had to deal with during their 14 years in power.
Meanwhile, is UK sovereignty really under threat or is that just a soundbite to get your vote, should those with physical jobs be allowed their pensions early and who else should be held responsible for horrendous treatment of the Post Office sub-postmasters and mistresses?
Share your thoughts on these topics and more in the comments.
The Tories contended with Brexit and Covid
What a selective memory Barry (MetroTalk, Fri) has when he idealises how it was when the Tories took over in 2010.
It’s funny how he says ‘there were no front pages about people in boats’, while simultaneously praising ‘seamless trade and travel throughout Europe’.
Well, firstly, Brexit happened (by a national vote, not by the Tories) and
the fact there was seamless travel across Europe also meant there was unlimited immigration (something he fails to mention).
Also, Covid hadn’t happened yet (which certainly wasn’t the fault of the Tory government), or would Barry prefer that the government had let tens of thousands of workers lose their jobs without implementing furlough? Then he would really have cause to complain.
It’s easy to pick and choose, but there are some harsh realities in between.
Paul, London
METRO TALK - HAVE YOUR SAY
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It’s time for a change but will it?
At last the British people have the opportunity to vote out this useless government who week after week are mired in further scandal. It’s time for change.
However, I don’t believe whoever leads the country after the general election of July 4 will be any different because parliament is run by the ‘uni-party’ and that means the same as usual – more tax, more war, more control. Roger, Wolverhampton
In what way is UK sovereignty under threat?
What is Mark (MetroTalk, Fri) blithering on about when he says Reform UK is the only party that will ‘be able to protect UK sovereignty’? In what way is UK sovereignty under threat? It’s a soundbite the nutters in Reform hope you’ll swallow without thinking, sweetie. Aidan, Dartford
‘More of the same’ or ‘worse’ is the choice we face. Taxes? High or higher. Red tape and regulation? High or higher.
Immigration? Very high or even higher still, if that’s possible.
Defence? Weak or even weaker. Law and order? Weak or even weaker. Energy bills? High or higher. Net-zero targets? Pointless or obsessive. Leadership? Little or none. Our children’s future? Bleak or even bleaker.
This feels not so much like a general election, as a wake for our nation. Otto Inglis, Crossgates
Who else is at fault?
Yes, Paula Vennells needs to take the blame for the horrendous treatment of the sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses while she was in charge of the Post Office.
However, the criminal investigating officers who carried out the interviews are the real ones at fault.
I speak as a recently retired detective and each of the people interviewed should have been given the disclosure that others had experienced problems with the Horizon computers and that multiple people were being investigated for the same thing.
I hope these officers were also investigated by the Professional Standards Department. Gary, Essex
Should those with physical jobs get pension early?
I was born in 1962 and have worked all my working life. The government, whose members sit down most of the day, have moved the retirement age to 67.
This is OK if you’re in good health and have an office or desk job. But when you’ve done a physical job for most of your working life and paid in full all national insurance and taxes etc, you should have the option to draw half of your pension at 65 and the rest when you get to 67. You never know what’s round the corner. Denis, via email
Unwanted invitations & celebs at the Flower Show
In response to Alps (MetroTalk, Thu), I was also 100 per cent against it being made possible to use phones on the Tube.
But after reading Alps’s letter about how not being glued to their devices allowed them to chat to strangers about pagan festivals, I’ve had a 100 per cent change of heart. Glen Purcell, Strawberry Hill
Henry (MetroTalk, Thu) says it’s unfair celebrities get free tickets to events such as the Chelsea Flower Show.
They benefit from the publicity, as does the event (more people attend). Plus, they often support the people putting their hard work into the show. It’s a win-win. Chas, London
It’s high time an investigation was held into the fees charged by emergency locksmiths.
I was charged £479 for ten minutes’ work, which involved drilling out the existing Yale-type lock and installing a new one. Roger Smith, Witham