Memory must be short and selective

SIR, – Dennis Forbes Grattan must have a very short and selective memory, singing the praises of the present occupant of No 10 Downing Street (Letters, March 24).

He has obviously forgotten that the Tories have chipped away at the NHS over the past 10 years of their tenure, closing hospitals, cutting thousands of nurses and removing their bursaries, privatising services, cleaners, porters etc by the back door.

They classed carers as “unskilled workers” though they have extensive training to do their job. Thousands of EU hospital staff have gone home after Brexit, making understaffing a serious problem.

Admittedly, they have introduced a bursary of £5,000 for English nursing students – hardly wildly generous.

The Tories voted against a pay rise for nursing staff, a move which was greeted by wild cheers and applause.

Now, of course, they are all praising “our” NHS staff and asking retired staff to come forward to help the fight against coronavirus, how ironic.

Johnson, Gove et al issue contradictory advice on a daily basis. We are lucky to have our own government and a leader of Nicola Sturgeon’s calibre.

Margaret Croll, Rannas Place, Portessie, Buckie