Readers' letters - Wednesday, November 16

In David Neal’s savage letter (WEP November 12) attacking Mick Mulcahy’s complaint of the present Government’s refusal of an inquiry into the ‘Cossack’ attack by police at Orgreave during the miners’ strike, he appears to condone assault and perjury, when sanctioned by the State.

Most people who have ever been involved in strikes, do so, not because of greed or reasons of power control, but in defence of their jobs and conditions of work.

Thatcher took on the miners as a matter of policy, beating them, and would and did emasculate the trade union movement. Her attack was pre-planned and manipulated at a time and situation favourable for her success.

The ‘sheep’ Neal mentioned, or at least a large majority, now languish on zero-hours contracts, ephemeral agency work, reduced pensions, and reduced job security.

Have power-mad union leaders brought these conditions about?

Denis Lee

Address supplied

politics

Game over for elite

Donald Trump’s victory is the final proof that it is game over for the political elite. Corbyn, Brexit and now Trump all add up to an attack on a system that is no longer fit for purpose. However, this is not the beginning of the end for democracy, it is simply the end of the beginning. After we won the vote, not much more than 100 years ago, we made a big mistake in abrogating our power to political parties. Politicians quickly set us at war with each other to further their own careers and the rest is history.

The political elite have marginalised and impoverished their constituents. At the same time, failing education, healthcare and employment have created a downtrodden class whose hopes and dreams have been crushed.

Little wonder that people have tired of political tribalism and are now fighting back.

Our campaign, which has the backing of Lord Digby Jones, will help candidates overcome the big parties. Independent MPs alone can put the needs and aspirations of their constituents ahead of the demands of a political party.

The election of Donald Trump as president of the USA is a game changer and will help speed the reform we so badly need.

Martyn Greene

Director of the Free Parliament Campaign


HEALTH

Chemists are vital for us

It would appear the Government is now intent on closing down a good proportion of our independent chemist shops.

We have a situation where GPs are complaining of being overworked, as well as the A&E hospital departments being overrun with people who should not be there in the first place.

The local chemist shop is where a huge amount of medical advice can be obtained, without a visit to the GP or A&E, if only people would seek their advice on minor problems before resorting to the other options. The chemist is a great font of knowledge and it is being overlooked.

The Government should be making the public more aware of this resource and pushing people in their direction, instead of closing them down.

If the Government, after all the signatures that went in on petitions, is still intent on the closures, why don’t they start with the chemist departments in our supermarkets?

The supermarkets have been the biggest cause of our high streets becoming abandoned ghost areas in our towns, and the chemist shop is just another example of this.

Ian Anderson via email

Address supplied