Immigrants gladly take low-paid jobs

From: David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York.

The latest unemployment figures for Britain are very bad news.

We have about 2.7 million unemployed of which 1 million are aged 16 to 24.

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That means that although that age group represent only 18 per cent of the population, they are now 25 per cent of the unemployed, but about 360,000 are in full-time education, so the figures are not quite so awful.

About one in five of our youngsters have no job, partly because we have allowed so many immigrants into our country, and these people will gladly work for below the UK minimum wage, and take on many jobs that British folk refuse. Leaving the EU would help not hinder youth job prospects.

Britain should learn from the masters of European finance and wealth creation: Germany. Germany does try to send 50 per cent of her school leavers to university.

Germany only has nine per cent of her 16 to 24-year-olds out of work. Her overall unemployment is way below ours and her manufacturing base is immense and growing even stronger.

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Germany has always planned long term, she has always valued “blue collar” workers and has always had superb apprentice schemes, whereby companies are actively encouraged to train young people.

The current euro crisis further emphasises just how brilliant and successful Germany is when compared with the rest of Europe and most of the rest of the world.

Don’t treat voters as idiots

From: Terry Palmer, South Lea Avenue, Hoyland, Barnsley.

Tory leader and PM Dave Cameron is now overseeing his government’s creation of record unemployment levels.

It is no good him treating the electorate as idiots by blaming the last Labour government and suggesting “it’s nothing to do with me guv”.

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The 2.7 million unemployed, the 1.2 million unemployed young people and even the 23 years record high of women unemployed is all to do with Cameron and his “it’s a price worth paying” schoolboy mentality friends in government.

That is what the Tory Party is very good at, unemployment, we only have to look back at the 1980s and early 1990s if any proof is needed. They tried brainwashing us as soon as they were allowed into office, courtesy of the Lib-Dems, when they cut all unemployment benefits with the excuse it would force people into work, what work? There ain’t none.

Now with record levels of all unemployment they pay less out in benefits, another Tory con- trick.

The time to learn German

From: John Gordon, Whitcliffe Lane, Ripon.

I hope potential linguists in schools are keeping a sharp eye on the languages used in the eurozone discussions. It’s obviously Chancellor Merkel who is setting the pace and she never speaks (publicly) a word of English or French.

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It’s German all the time. It leaves President Sarkozy trying to look like an elder statesman and Prime Minister Cameron looking like a fish out of water.

If you think a knowledge of German will be useful, you are quite right, it will be for a long time yet.

Let people with ME have a rest

From: Dr John H Greensmith, ME Community Trust.org, Downend, Bristol.

As I write, five weeks before Christmas, I have been running a temperature for more than two weeks, am in bed or up, not washed or dressed, only for essentials; the curtains are drawn against daylight; I feel sickly and nauseous; I cannot concentrate for any time, nor hold my head up to make conversation.

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My caring, supportive, doctor has nothing to offer but genuine sympathy and advice of taking paracetamol, water and rest. For those who say, when they see a person who suffers from ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) in the street – “You always seem all right when I see you” – this is what we are like, when unable to go out and when you don’t see us.

I haven’t been across the doors for 25 consecutive days this month for anyone to see.

Christmas, love it or hate it, is coming. It is a testing time for all individuals and relationships, which is exacerbated to intolerable when one is constantly ill. My experience, over 23 years, is quite typical of hundreds of thousands in the UK, millions around the world.

This appeal for understanding is not intended for those affected by ME who are able to enjoy Christmas, or are prepared to suffer the consequences afterwards but for those who dread it. If you love or care for someone with ME, think about it, put yourself in their position: Would you welcome guests, in a party mood, if you were feeling as I have described; wish them to enter your cold, house, neglected due to inability; receive cards and gifts you have not the energy to return and cannot afford without going further into debt?

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Here is some advice: 1. For anyone who loves or cares for someone with ME: ask them what would be best for them and then, unconditionally, unquestioningly, do as they request. 2. For any ME sufferer, unable to cope with Christmas: tell your relatives and friends the contents of, or show them, this letter. 3. For any ME sufferer unable to deal with, even bullied, by someone who doesn’t understand: Contact us and we will speak to them on your behalf.

We shall hear of more casualties in the New Year, from those who did not heed this appeal and who will not be there 24 or 48 hours later to witness the exhaustion, or the months of ME relapse, that ensue.

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