Privileged Tories only care about themselves VIEWPOINTS Take heed of Diego’s death
Viewpoints, M.E.N, Mitchell Henry House, Hollinwood Avenue, Oldham, OL9 8EF viewpoints@men-news.co.uk
THE UK has spent more money fighting coronavirus than almost all comparable countries but still languishes towards the bottom of league tables of economic performance in 2020 and deaths caused by the virus’, according to The Financial Times.
Why is this? The government appears to be semi-detached from the rest of us, out of touch with the ordinary realities of life. Even the Christmas regulations look to be designed for Home Counties Tory voters.
Rishi Sunak envisages clawing back billions from ordinary people once the pandemic is over, yet the Audit Commission state £18bn has been distributed in undocumented contracts to government ministers and Tory MPs’ cronies.
According to the lowest estimate, 60,000 people have died from coronavirus so far, and yet Old Etonian entitlement still dominates the whole government.
Boris Johnson is unwilling to sack ministers, even when they are considered to be bullies or totally incompetent.
The Audit Commission and MPs highlighted the Johnson government giving PPE contracts to spouses of Tory MPs, or family friends – and often to people with no relevant experience.
The Audit Commission reported that the £18bn in contracts were awarded, with insufficient documentation on key decisions and how conflicts of interest were managed.
Government is now seen as a gravy train for hangers on. Insiders had a special VIP channel so that cronies of Tory MPs and peers could access such contracts much more easily.
But it does not stop there. Shipley, Wakefield, Ashford, Knaresborough and Selby and Ainsty Conservative Associations have all received thousands in Covid cash bailouts, as have controversially numerous fox and stag hunting groups. All from tax payers’ money.
And when supporting struggling sports with funding, it is the likes of horse racing and rugby that are first in line. The pattern is consistent – exploit the virus crisis for the benefit of Boris Johnson’s entitled cronies.
Remember, this is a government that was reluctant to provide meals for vulnerable, hungry children. Andrew Milroy, via email
WE have all read recently how footballer Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60.
And it is quite likely that his partaking of excessive alcohol and drugs had an effect on allowing this extremely talented sportsman to experience his early demise from this world.
Plus, there have been many other famous celebrities whose lives have also been cut short for similar reasons.
I only mention this unfortunate fact so that hopefully young people who are made aware of this recurring problem and situation will take heed and not be tempted to emulate their sometimes heroes in going down this road in life.
And the horrific murder of Melissa Belshaw as highlighted in the M.E.N. (December 3) is another example of a different type of horror that can sometimes occur when excessive alcohol is combined with the taking of illegal drugs.
Apologies for highlighting such an unpleasant aspect of everyday life at such a time in our calendar when many people like to demonstrate their good will and best wishes to everyone else.
And, of course, many of us would like something pleasant to think about to take our minds off the current pandemic and the issues surrounding that.
I believe it is a good aim to believe in that we should spread as much love as possible to each and every person – in not only this country but around the world as well.
Howard Gardner, Sale