Incensed by Johnson’s unfair criticism of care homes

From: Richard F Lowe, Burley in Wharfedale, Ilkley.

I READ Christa Ackroyd’s article on social care (The Yorkshire Post, July 11) with interest as it resonated with my own situation.

My mum became incapable of looking after herself and went into a care home near Lincoln on January 17. We visited her for the last time on March 10 and she died – thankfully, not from Covid-19 – on April 23. Unfortunately, our circumstances meant we were unable to attend her funeral service. However, our distress at this situation would have been far greater had it not been for the knowledge that everyone in the small care home made her final days as comfortable and dignified as possible.

They faced challenges because of the lack of PPE and even getting food supplies delivered. Therefore, like so many other people, I was incensed at the apparent criticism by Boris Johnson about care homes not having followed procedures – which were not even in place!

This is another example of the Prime Minister’s mouth and brain not being on the same wavelength and is a further evidence of his limited grasp of reality.

From: Ron Firth, Campsall.

I FIND it completely unacceptable that the BBC is looking to cancel the free licences for over-75s and reimpose the full licence fee for the majority.

This at a time when the standard of reporting by the BBC newsreaders and reporters throughout this pandemic has been disgraceful. They have ‘rejoiced’ at any semblance of bad news and looked to downplay any good news.

Newsreaders regularly give the impression that they are more important than the person they are interviewing, asking questions and then ‘feeding’ them the answer they expect to receive often on a ‘Yes’ / ‘No’ basis.

The BBC should maintain the free licence for over-75s and look to reduce staff levels and/or salaries.

From: Karl Sheridan, Old Lea, Holme upon Splading Moor.

ON the TV licence which is a burden to us all, retired or not, I feel the licence fee is an outdated method of financing the BBC and should be abolished – especially as one already has to pay for a landline and wi-fi to enable Smart TVs to work to get catch-up TV. It all adds up making TV an expensive form of entertainment, especially for pensioners, and arguably the TV licence is not really value for money.