Esther McVey endangers free speech with her attack on teachers - Yorkshire Post Letters

I was interested to read (The Yorkshire Post, September 30) that Esther McVey, the Tory MP and former minister, thinks there is a left-wing view being pushed in classrooms.

I wonder if the views in the classroom cover a wide range of opinions from teachers who are probably representative of the population as a whole.

The views held by Ms McVey are far to the right of centre and therefore the majority of views will always be to her left. Everybody seems to be trying to restrict free speech and this is no different.

At present we seem to have a surplus of views.

* An expert – anyone with an opinion (like me).

* A scientist – anyone who can spell science.

* Government spokesman – the last one to sit down.

* Statistics – numbers however incorrect and poorly prepared but at least consistent.

* Parliamentary source – the tea lady.

* Parliamentary debate – reading from pre-prepared text written by a script writer addressed to no-one in particular.

When Brexit and the Covid virus are sorted, it will be time to really get down to business. Massive debts to clear, a corrupt voting system designed to keep one of two parties in power, a second chamber which is a disgrace, appears to be inhabited by monied hangers-on and is far too large. A Civil Service which appears to be attempting to change but which is top heavy and partly privatised. Rant over.

From: Steve Ayton, Haworth.

My television set suffered one of those “near miss” incidents when I watched a Labour MP determined to blame every possible problem on the Government’s inability to make “Track and Trace” work.

The only faintly praiseworthy facet of the politician was his dogged determination to air his idiotic view despite his complete lack of reason and courtesy.

Any clown who thinks that a fully functional Track and Trace would have stopped the selfish and disgusting behaviour of the York revellers denied their post-10pm alcohol is way off the mark.

From: Neil Richardson, Kirkheaton.

Your report on retraining (The Yorkshire Post, September 30) mentions a recent reform in education which will offer fully-funded courses to help boost the post-Covid economy. But if courses are vital as precursors to economic revival, are there also enabling tasks which should be in place before or after students commence their courses – for instance, a robust system to select applicants, and maybe another that prepares them for the novel year ahead but also assists their progress?

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Thank you

James Mitchinson