Mayor’s words ring true
WELL done to the Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen for moving so quickly to criticise the regional pay board proposals put forward by the Liz Truss campaign team, as reported in The Gazette: Truss public pay plan left mayor ‘speechless.’
Ben was seen across several TV news channels highlighting flaws in such a stupid proposal put forward by Liz Truss to win over more of the 150,000 Tory members.
Sadly it shows us people in the north that a Tory-led Truss government will have scant record for us, especially for a levelling up agenda. Probably the only hope for us northerners is a Rishi Sunak Tory members election win.
Although Rishi Sunak topped all five MP votes it’s the Tory membership who have the final say. Surely the elected representatives have a better knowledge of their fellow MPs than a Tory membership who are predominantly white middle-aged males and mainly from the south?
Waiting over six weeks for a result on September 5 is somewhat negligent as people are having to struggle with the cost of living etc.
Plus to add insult to injury we hear that the Tory election process
the FDA
is reported to be subject to a cyber attack.
GEORGE DUNNING, Ormesby
Mr Sunak swam while others sank
THE latest odds on who will become Britain’s next Prime Minister put Liz Truss ahead.
Rishi Sunak is that much the underdog he currently has one foot on an overripe banana skin, the other foot on a clapped out roller skate.
The bookies rarely get it wrong. And even if they did Rishi Sunak, in my opinion, does not deserve to be PM.
Being filthy rich does not disqualify someone from being PM any more than being dirt poor should.
But honesty, understanding, competence and loyalty are the virtues most needed to hold the most honoured position of PM.
Alas, this is where Rishi Sunak the plotter, the schemer and betrayer falls flat on his face.
Rishi did the dirty on Boris, so loyalty is out the window. He was also fined for breaking Covid lockdown rules.
This man also gets zero points for understanding how ordinary people live. He axed the £20-a-week Universal Credit boost that helped some of the poorest through the pandemic in the same weeks he requested planning permission to build a private swimming pool at his luxury Richmond mansion.
That was a classic case of him swimming, whilst others sink.
Some may argue he came up trumps when, as Chancellor, he introduced the furlough scheme. But this was not as peachy as most people think.
Blinded by panic Rishi was a truly wasteful Chancellor, squandering billions of pounds lining the pockets of millionaires and fake businesses.
This money will never be recovered.
STEPHEN DIXON, Redcar
Cristiana’s talent is impressive
I WASN’T at all surprised to read 14-year-old Cristiana Borg’s drawings have been exhibited by the Royal Academy of Arts (Gazette 30/7/2022).
I know Cristiana and her family quite well. Cristiana is a delightful young girl who often pops into my shop, along with her family, on her visits to Normanby.
Cristiana is so talented for her age, not to mention extremely modest. She has shown me her portfolio and as good as her hospital drawings are, many drawings in her portfolio are even better than them!
To say I am impressed would be a gross understatement.
Artistic youngsters like Cristiana are a breath of fresh air. I salute her and long may her talent continue.
KENNY SURTEES,
Middlesbrough