Realities of unemployed life are far from ‘idle’ stereotype

From: Trisha Scott, West Park Terrace, Scarborough.

It would appear that the toxic notion that “immigrants are here to do the jobs that idle Brits won’t do” is back with a vengeance, with your correspondent, Jayne Dowle, jumping onto the bandwagon (The Yorkshire Post, November 13).

Ms Dowle, along with other misguided reporters, on other newspapers, apparently believes that British “workers” (sic) are, without exception, lazy. While I accept that there are, indeed, a minority who fall into this category, and who should be penalised, I find it grossly offensive, and probably even racist, to imply that British workers and jobseekers are for the most part idle.

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There are idlers in every race and nationality, Ms Dowle. I have also read the report about the Northampton-based company, Greencore. I have also read what ex-workers and job applicants have had to say. Idle Brits in this instance? I hardly think so.

Furthermore, many UK companies actively seek foreign workers, either through agencies abroad (ever tried finding vacancies advertised by shipping companies?), others advertise in the press, usually in Polish, or notices (in Polish again) in their windows. There are even some who insist that their workforce must be able to speak Polish. Why, when the mother tongue in this country is English? All of these ploys will act as a deterrent to the ordinary English-speaking native Brit, don’t you agree?

As regards benefits and the benefit culture, it does not help that wages for many workers are so poor that they need help to maintain even a basic standard of living. It should never be the case that a person can be better off on benefits than they can in work

Perhaps Ms Dowle should get out and see what life is really like in the world of the unemployed, desperate to find a job, but facing increasing hostility and media lies about “idle Brits”.

From: Terry Duncan, Greame Road, Bridlington.

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THE time has come for the Yorkshire Independence Party to raise its head in the face of failed promises by Prime Minister David Cameron.

The other day, the retiring Alex Salmond warned Cameron that he will disappear from the political arena if he does not come across with the promises he made in September.

Likewise in Yorkshire, will Cameron stick by all his boasts of rail, NHS, industry and motorway improvements he has also promised? I think not. So it is time that the folk of Yorkshire rise up and form the Yorkshire Independence Party... soon!