Question lined up for MP
WHAT a pity Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald could find the time to man the RMT picket line but not the Commons to discuss the Conservative motion condemning the rail strike.
In the event, by the end of the debate all shadow back benchers had retired, possibly realising they could offer nothing worthwhile to the discussion, only 15 voted against!
Mr McDonald is an MP, there to serve his constituency, although we know from the many facts and figures highlighted by the Conservatives that the RMT have given a great deal of money to the Labour party.
How many actually work on the railway and how many use the railway?
Given that Middlesbrough is one of the poorest towns in our country, it is doubtful many of them earn as much as railway workers when even the median pay scale of the lower-paid railway workers is far higher than the average-paid worker in our country.
I am not including drivers here, their salaries are obscene when compared to bus drivers who have a far more difficult job.
We know that passenger numbers have been falling for some time now, and remember the end of Stagecoach’s involvement in the East Coast main line railway.
So, Mr McDonald, in support of these workers, who do you expect to pay for what the RMT want?
COLIN HATTON, Marton
Could this change have been forecast?
REMEMBER the weather man Michael ‘what tornado?’ Fish, pictured right.
He used to stand in front of a board and place little magnetic symbols of clouds sunshine lightning strikes.
And in a dour monotone voice tell us what tomorrow had in store.
He had to deny the tornado because he didn’t have a symbol.
Then probably jump in his car and go home.
Fast-forward 30 or 40 years, we now have Alex Beresford who looks like he’s about to burst into song giving us the weather report from different locations from around the UK, no doubt with a full crew of cameramen, sound engineers and will probably have to spend the odd night in a nice hotel.
And you can get the weather report on your phone.
Nice work if you can get it. BRENDAN McDERMOTT,
Thornaby
Good to know Paul has stayed grounded
CONGRATULATIONS to Paul Rodgers, local lad and rock legend, formerly of such bands as Free and Bad Company, for donating £10,000 to Teesside
University to fund a music scholarship. Occasionally some who make the big time from humble beginnings forget about their roots as they experience the dizziness of bright lights, adulation and untold wealth.
It’s reassuring to know that others on the path to fame and fortune remain grounded and loyal to the communities they have come from.
Well done Paul.
CHRIS McINTYRE, Independent Councillor
for Park Ward