Dangerous waters as Rashford makes us face our failings

MARCUS Rashford is once more holding up a mirror to ourselves and our deeply troubled nation ( Tom Richmond, The Yorkshire Post, October 26).

This seemingly self- effacing young man appears largely unaware of the impact he is having on the political chasms that so divide us. He is probably the greatest individual force for good the pandemic has produced, comparable only to Captain Tom Moore.

He is, however, wading in dangerous waters, filled with crocodiles of many colours. Two particularly threatening deep blue ones hold a marked resemblance to the blustering prime minister and his malevolent chief advisor.

Already some of their lesser spawn are engaged in suggesting Marcus Rashford is engaged in virtue signalling, of a type most deluded, self- righteous liberals, such as myself, can’t resist. Captain Tom was a safe, unthreatening hero who was non- controversial.

Rashford, without personal intent it seems, is challenging, makes us face our failings. One thing his campaign does show very clearly through these murky waters, is the mendacity of the Government’s oft- repeated claim to be seeking to level up society.

Politicians who really believed in that, would actively embrace giving deprived children free meals in this time of crisis; that our Government thrashes and squirms on the issue is hugely indicative of their true feelings.

Marcus beware, these crocodiles are after you, for you pose a real threat to their dominance of the malodorous creek we are stuck up.

From: Dr Peter Williams, Newbiggin, Malton.

PROVIDING free school meals in the summer holiday cost £ 20m per week, so extending this over the Christmas would be less than half a per cent of what was spent on a private Test and Trace system that doesn’t work.

Perhaps Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake’s Victorian view is that children should suffer because their parents are doubly disadvantaged by the pandemic. Ebenezer Scrooge would be proud.

From: Peter Fellows, Randall Place, Bradford.

GOOD to learn that Chris Loder MP and his fellow Tories have sponsored a bill to strengthen the laws against animal cruelty in the same week that they voted to let children from the poorest families starve.

It’s all a matter of moral priorities.