Labour must be realistic about financial bailouts Rishi Sunak can provide

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is quite right to warn that the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic will inevitably result in the loss of some jobs, some businesses, and a number of charities.  

There has to be a limit to what any government can do – across the entire globe – in dealing with a crisis of unimaginable proportions.

No country in the world could be properly prepared for such a dire situation, and that some actions are having to be taken ‘on the hoof’, even with the benefit of the best medical and scientific advice, is an inevitable consequence of this dreadful virus.

The Chancellor has announced a welcome £750m package to support charities (The Yorkshire Post, April 9), but we all have to accept that there is not a bottomless pit of money to fully support everyone and everything.

Following that support Labour’s new Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds stated that it “falls far short of filling the financial black hole many organisations are facing”.

Well, of course it does, but there have to be some limits, and there will be some unfortunate casualties.  If that is the best that Ms Dodds has to offer, rather than any constructive suggestions, then it does not bode well for how the new opposition front bench is going to operate in the future.

Mistakes are being, and will be, made along the way.  Many will be able to be corrected as matters become clearer, but this is all the nature of the situation in which we find ourselves, with the whole world learning as we move forward. We all just have to work constructively together as best we can to beat this nightmare.

From: Beckie Hart, CBI Regional Director for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Protecting NHS and social care staff on the frontline is vitally important. But it’s not just them, from people carrying out essential work in food manufacture or Post Offices and delivery drivers, key workers need protective gear and we are committed to helping to secure it for them.

These people are the fifth emergency service in times like these. I believe that businesses and firms in region could play a key role and I’m calling on anyone who thinks they could play a part to sign up to the webinar and see if you can.

We are in a battle and many businesses who can are stepping up to the plate.  We all can play our role and make a difference and this is another way we can protect those who are going above and beyond in this crisis.

It is absolutely right that frontline staff have the appropriate protective equipment so they are safe and can have the confidence they need to do their jobs.

From: Barrie Crowther, Walton, Wakefield. 
In light of China opening up, is it a good decision for all events in Britain to be shut down for the foreseeable future?

The Great Yorkshire show is still three month off its designated time of mid July, so was the decision to cancel a little premature? Should it have been moved to the August Bank Holiday?

This is one major show which would lift the spirits of many thousands of people after the lockdown. While I recognise a show of this calibre costs a vast amount to organise only for it to be cancelled at the last minute, I still think it could have been staged later in the year.  What are the views of your readers?

From: James and Helen Irvine, Skipton.

We want to thank you for your work during this current nightmare.  It is good to have local news as well as the important news about Covid-19. We also enjoy the pictures which we find uplifting, and the black-and-white pictures that are of such historic interest.

Thank you also for your crossword that is as good as ever.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

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Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor