First the Passport Office, next the NHS

NEWS reports over the weekend said ‘Johnson threatens to privatise Passport Office over backlog’.

Just delete ‘Passport Office’ and insert ‘National Health Service’.

The same reasoning will apply... backlog and delays. Excuses and apologies for a lack of resources – people, money, training, equipment and late supplies – will not be acceptable.

And, whilst I am here, can I protest at Mr Johnson’s abuse of small children in a classroom as a publicity prop. Were all those very young children’s parents asked if they could be so abused – and I do not apologise for using that word – because they were being abused for a political publicity stunt.

The man should apologise for stooping so low.

Who gave the headmaster permission to admit photographers into the school classroom? I would quite properly be refused admission to photograph young school children at studies.

I can accept that some politicians with strong involvement in early learning, pre-school classwork would wish to keep in touch with how it’s progressing and talk with adult staff and see facilities. Sitting down in the classroom pretending to join in painting is fine for Mum and Dad and teacher. But the presence of a rather overweight stranger and a battalion of camera-wielding photographers, elbowing for the best position whilst he pretended not to notice them, was for one purpose only – self-publicity. And that, to my mind, is an abuse.

Is this another case of one rule for Mr Johnson and another for all of us plebs?

Don Frampton Newton Abbot, Devon