Rishi Sunak’s thankless task over youth unemployment – Yorkshire Post Letters

From: Keith Massey, Bishopthorpe, York.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak continues to be praised for his handling of the economy during Covid-19.Chancellor Rishi Sunak continues to be praised for his handling of the economy during Covid-19.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak continues to be praised for his handling of the economy during Covid-19.

RICHMOND MP and Chancellor Rishi Sunak has worked wonders supporting businesses and jobs over much of this pandemic – but the tornado-threatening clouds are appearing on the horizon with imminent mass job losses in Yorkshire and the country (The Yorkshire Post, October 5).

The realisation is dawning on people who have been clinging on to their jobs on a knife edge through furlough that the next few months to Christmas and spring will be a defining and critical period for them, Mr Sunak and the Government.

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A government can only function through successful businesses, hard graft and paying taxes.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak earlier this week.Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak earlier this week.
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak earlier this week.

Governments have to put in place and prioritise the mechanisms that enable a company to succeed and thrive.

As a country we have to survive this hideous time in our lives and history and surely supporting companies to take on trainee and apprenticeships to give our youth and the unemployed a purpose and motivation is a must. Or do we want to see them a year on in a desperate Jarrow-type march?

Even this is probably not going to be sufficient for all those who are in the wrong place at the wrong time – school and university leavers now and over the next few years.

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This could be a defining time in this national emergency to re-introduce National Service. One of our greatest assets – and one that the majority feel proud of and trust – is our military.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak during a visit to the headquarters of Octopus Energy in London.Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak during a visit to the headquarters of Octopus Energy in London.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak during a visit to the headquarters of Octopus Energy in London.

We have the expertise and the facilities for our youth to serve their country and be given opportunities and challenges learning valuable technical and life skills, discipline, fitness and adventure. They could help (not with weapons) our stretched services assisting communities both home and abroad in serious floods and other life-saving support.

My elder brother was called up and ended up on the personal staff of Field Marshall Sir William (Bill) Slim (later Viscount), Chief of the Imperial Staff and a national military icon.

From: Bob Watson, Baildon.

I THINK most people appreciate Chancellor Rishi Sunak is in an invidious position as he tries to keep the economy on some sort of track and protect jobs as far as possible. It is, however, sadly quite obvious that not all can be protected for ever.

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What response do we then get from Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds? She tells us that “Britain risks the worst unemployment crisis in decades and Rishi Sunak’s name will be all over it” (The Yorkshire Post, October 6).

Well, if that is the best Ms Dodds can come up with, then thank goodness she does not have her own hand on the tiller.

Indeed, if Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer considers her to be the best person in his party for the job of Shadow Chancellor, then it seems to me that it speaks volumes for the “talent” at his disposal.

It is blindingly obvious that we will have the worst unemployment crisis for decades through no one’s fault but coronavirus. What on earth does Ms Dodds expect? Miracles?

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

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