A democracy in name only
IT’S in the manifesto. In black and white (to be scrupulously honest, the print was white on blue): “In all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection animal welfare and food standards.”
Apparently it actually means something like Johnson’s flexible approach to standards everywhere, as in law breaking, deceit, bluster, lack of probity, electoral fraud, accountability etc.
He is perfectly happy to throw our farmers, environmental standards, food standards, under a bus.
The truth is, he always was, he just said the opposite to get power.
Johnson is not governing for us, not even for farmers who voted for him, let alone northern communities who thought he cared a fig for our economy, social welfare, food quality or health services.
Mr Timpson, Dr Mullan, please stand up for your manifesto commitments, your promises. You promised to serve us, not US agribusiness.
Honour your promises about the EU deal you had signed up to, not discard whole sections of the economy to deliver profit for the extremist funders of this drive to deregulate, it’s in their interests, not ours.
Does anyone remember when Gove promised frictionless trade with the EU? Now permits, lorry parks and bureaucracy.
No-one voted for this incompetence over Covid, this recklessness and incompetence over trade and the economy. What they are relentlessly dishing up is explicitly nothing like their offers to us, in referendum, as in election, they are players, manipulators.
They unscrupulously lied to us, to their own voters, to achieve power, to do as they please. This is arrogant elected dictatorship is democracy in name only.
David Powell, via emails
THINK AT FRAGILE TIME
THE coronavirus pandemic has made people reflect on the fragility of life, and understandably, solicitors have been inundated with requests from people looking to get their affairs in order with regards to having an up-to-date will.
At Will Aid, the charity willwriting campaign, we recently carried out a survey which revealed that coronavirus has prompted more than 55% of Britons to think about how best to protect their loved ones after they are gone. In November, solicitors around the UK will be offering to produce this important document in exchange for a voluntary donation to Will
Aid.
We want to talk to all the people out there who have previously avoided confronting the inevitability of death – and help them to plan ahead to make what will be an awful time for friends and family, that little bit easier.
Will Aid Month happens every November and encourages people to get a professionally written will with the help of a solicitor.
Law firms volunteer their time and expertise to write basic wills, waiving their fee, with clients being invited to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid instead.
Donations support the vital work of the nine partner charities. (ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, Sightsavers, SCIAF (Scotland) and Trocaire (Northern Ireland)).
To find your nearest solicitor or for more information, visit www. willaid.org.uk.
Peter de Vena Franks Campaign Director
Will Aid