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Letters
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Send your news, views and criticism in not more than 150 words to Socialist Postbox, PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD, phone 020 8988 8771 or email [email protected]
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Views of letter writers do not necessarily match those of the Socialist Party.
Heseltine's hyperbole
What planet does Tory Lord Heseltine occupy when in the opulent surroundings of London's Mansion House he tells an audience of business leaders that Liverpool is one of the "leading lights" of the "Northern Powerhouse"? (Quoted in the Liverpool Echo, 18 February 2016.)
Bloated with the self-satisfaction befitting a 'freeman of the city' - gifted by Labour's Mayor Anderson - he declared: "Liverpool has a real opportunity to shape its own destiny and it will be important to set clear priorities for investment for it to really thrive".
Just who stands to thrive?
The same Echo reports: "Liverpool NHS jobs face the axe because of community health funding cuts. Up to 30 NHS staff in Liverpool could lose their jobs as services including exercise classes for dementia patients face the axe." This adds to the £340 million already slashed from social provision.
This shows the glaring contrast between the Tories' mendacious hyperbole and the reality of life for thousands of the city's people whose lives are damaged.
Words aren't enough. The council should declare "enough is enough" and take any measures necessary to protect our people.
Tony Mulhearn, Liverpool
Nurses narked
An article was recently published in the Socialist relating to the demise of mental health care in the NHS. (See socialistparty.org.uk, 'Mental health: system in crisis'.)
A paragraph mentioned agency staff not daring to speak out on issues as they can find themselves out of a job. All nurses must speak out about poor care. I am a general nurse, employed full time on an NHS contract.
Nursing has been a choice of occupation for hard-working working class girls or grammar school mavericks. There will be fewer nurses from working class backgrounds, as they need support during their training and the entrance grades become unattainable. This is class war.
The agencies are reinforcing the road to privatisation. This government would rather throw money at agencies like Thornbury, whose boss is a Tory donor.
Sandra Smith, staff nurse
Con crime con
I remember that the Tories always used to brag about being the party of 'law and order'.
My sister works as a witness care officer for Sussex Police. Her job is to ensure that police witnesses attend court to give evidence at trial.
She often has to listen to very harrowing stories from domestic violence and rape victims. It can be traumatic and rewarding at the same time.
As a result of the Tory government's continued obsession with austerity, a third of those jobs are to go. This is after they have 'cut costs' by combining some back-office functions with neighbouring Surrey Police.
While the government can find limitless money for wars, or efforts to keep refugees out, thereby keeping the racist pot boiling as a diversion from the damage they are causing to people's lives, they can't find the money to protect ordinary people from crime.
Clive Walder, Birmingham
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
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