Huge pay rises for top bosses must stop
THE average FTSE 100 CEO is now paid around 190 times the wages of the average worker, and around 400 times that of someone earning the minimum wage.
Executive pay has become divorced from reality, disconnected from performance and totally detached from the pay of other employees.
Millionaire bosses are treated as irreplaceable talent, the rest of us are often dismissed as a cost to be reduced. That needs to change.
The Equality Trust is urging its supporters to tell the UK government that in order to fix this, we need to be able to measure it through compelling private companies to reveal the difference in pay between bosses and workers. Andrew Wastling
Major has a right to view
I WAS surprised to see Paul Nuttall, the UKIP leader, pouring insults on to Sir John Major and others because they are critical of the Brexit policy (Viewpoints, March 2).
That’s what appears to be the substance of his diatribe when he says they “can’t get their heads around democracy in action”.
I don’t have any time for the people he names, as they all have relatively conservative views, though not as extreme as Paul Nuttall’s. What surprises me most is that after all the revelations about the many things he has said about himself that are not true, he has the brass neck to shamelessly put himself in public view with insults rather than arguments, against his political opponents.
I gather that he doesn’t like anyone arguing against the result of the referendum. He seems to be saying that democracy is a once and for all event and that the Brexit decision cannot be argued against. Surely if that were the case, then we should not have had the recent referendum because we had a referendum 43 years ago that took us into the EU?
Ever since then, the right wing of the Tory party, from where Nigel Farage and Paul Nuttall came, have been arguing for Britain to leave the EU.
If it was good enough for them to continue to argue for leaving after the first referendum, it’s good enough for others to continue to argue to remain after the second, particularly since the M.E.N survey has shown that opinions have changed in Greater Manchester since the referendum and that a majority now seem to be in favour of remaining in the EU. Sam Darby, Burnage Green Party
I’M not calling Paul Nuttall hypocritical, work-shy or bigheaded when he describes Sir John Major as ‘the dull grey man of politics’ talking about Brexit as a ‘discarded politician’ (Viewpoints
Mar 2), but at least John Major used to go to turn up in parliament to earn his salary.
Not so, Mr. N. Votewatch. EU tells one his attendance and voting record in the European Parliament is appalling.
Granted, he co-tabled a motion of censure on the European Commission a couple of years ago (no surprise there!), and has spoken 35 times in plenary, most recently with 145 words last September. He has also asked 15 Parliamentary Questions, most recently 21 months ago. But he is said to be 747th out of 751 in terms of votes cast as an MEP.
He also isn’t credited with any report work.
Votewatch.EU says raw statistics don’t tell the whole picture, and perhaps this is inaccurate or biased, but it suggests he uses the salary and expenses we pay him to represent us simply to re-present his views and for party purposes (a recent correspondent cited his absence in Stoke when a crucial vote on trade was taken).
It seems he uses the office of MEP simply to get column inches and invites onto television and radio programmes. To be taken seriously he should do some work, earn respect and then people may listen.
In the meantime, he should take his own advice to Mr Major and ‘keep his negativity to himself.’ Joe Pears, Withington
Bus changes long overdue
HAVING read the M.E.N. article about changes in bus provision, it would appear we are reinventing the wheel, although this has to be further discussed.
It was the worst mistake in politics for the then Thatcher government. It made operators think of one thing only - profit.
If a route was not viable, it would be taken off unless the transport authority could subsidise it. Unless, of course, if you resided in London!
One thing for sure, I will be looking from all the mayoral candidates that who will promise to hold any franchise operator to account for poor performance, driver attitude and cleanliness of buses etc.
Having been a First bus passenger since they took to the streets many years ago in Greater Manchester, I would be astounded if they were chosen to operate all bus services in the county.
Their buses are dirty and rattle like my late mother’s dentures! There is also an inconsiderate driving standard.
The bus services bill must have teeth or it would be as much use as a chocolate fire guard. Stephen K Holt North Manchester