Yorkshire MP’s praise for ‘world-leading’ pandemic response – Yorkshire Post Letters

THIS is a hugely challenging time for people and businesses. The Government’s schemes have helped to protect the livelihoods of thousands of people in Keighley and Ilkley. This country has a world-leading economic response to coronavirus.

And as we move through the second stage of our roadmap to recovery, we are determined to kick-start the engine of our economy while continuing to provide flexible support to those who need it.

We will do everything we can to ensure people can pay their bills and put food on the table as people continue to ‘stay alert, to control the virus and save lives’.

Mr Blunkett’s top-down idea

From: Robert Bottamley, Thorn Road, Hedon.

THE main thrust of David Blunkett’s column (The Yorkshire Post, June 13) was criticism of the ‘top-down’ approach adopted by a Conservative government towards the NHS.

In principle, I accept the point. Unfortunately, my recollection of Mr Blunkett (now Lord Blunkett) is that, in government, he rather favoured the ‘top-down approach’.

For example, as Secretary of State for Education, classroom teachers were mere pieces on a board game, to be manipulated as he considered appropriate without consultation and irrespective of their knowledge or experience.

United fan’s true hero

From: Ian Richardson, Railway Street, Beverley.

I HAVE followed Manchester United for over 50 years. It has often been a glorious ride with a galaxy of great players: Best, Charlton, Cantona, Scholes, Ronaldo and Giggs.

Today we have a true hero (The Yorkshire Post, June 18). Marcus Rashford is a gifted young player, but his success in reversing the Government’s mean stance on giving more support to needy children makes me prouder than ever before to follow his team.

Britain didn’t invent slavery

From: Mr D Hutchinson, Kirkbymoorside, York.

IT comes as no surprise that the peaceful protests about unacceptable police brutality in the USA have moved on to slavery and turned into violence. It is also no surprise that there is much misinformation being bandied about on this subject.

Slavery is an abomination, but the “Slave Trade” was not an invention of the British Empire. Slavery was the norm throughout the African continent for many centuries before any Europeans got involved. This fact has been airbrushed out of history in modern times and I suspect few, if any of the protesters, will knowledge of it.

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

WE now have Labour MPs “taking the knee” outside Parliament for George Floyd, who was killed by an American policeman. Don’t remember any of this when PC Palmer was brutally killed outside Parliament.

From: Brian H Sheridan, Lodge Moor, Sheffield.

I AGREE with Phyllis Capstick’s philosophy “when in Rome....” (The Yorkshire Post, June 15). However, for immigrants “to return to their own cultures and their roots”, could mean deprivation or even death. Moreover, expat Brits are not noted for deference to their hosts.

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.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

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Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor