OnTheWight always welcomes a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers – unsurprisingly they don’t always reflect the views of this publication. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch and of course, your considered comments are welcome below.
This rom Hans Bromwich, Cowes. Ed
It’s hugely disappointing that Labour have rolled back on pursuing those who fraudulently acquired £billions of taxpayers money during the pandemic. Many will consider reneging on this promise tantamount to condoning, or passively enabling, corporate theft.
Prosecutions along with reclaiming this money, either directly, or via the seizure of assets, could be used to help settle the Windrush, WASPI women and infected blood victims claims.
No pussyfooting around
As for the Post Office scandal, Government could easily insist that Fujitsu pays victims £100,000 each immediately, with the balance for those entitled to more to follow. Our new Labour Government needs to show it’s different from those who for years have simply kicked injustices into the long grass.
It shouldn’t pussyfoot around, all they need do is to make it clear to Fujitsu that if they don’t immediately comply then they can whistle when it comes to being awarded any future Government contracts.
Increasing levels of poverty need to be urgently addressed
Equally important, if not more so, Labour needs to urgently address increasing levels of poverty affecting many in full time work. Public sector workers are asking for an above inflation pay settlement of 5%.
Surely it’s time to recognise blanket percentage wage rises are fundamentally flawed. They have been largely responsible for driving a growing gap between the richest and poorest in society. 5% for someone on an annual salary of 25k is £1250. For someone earning 100k per annum, 5% represents £5,000.
Building up trouble for the future
This nonsense has been going on for years and years, little wonder those on the lowest salaries are increasingly finding it impossible to live let alone bring up a family, and we then wonder why the likes of junior doctors are deciding to move abroad, to countries where salaries are far more generous, and work conditions more favourable.
If we blindly continue with blanket percentage pay rises we are simply building up trouble for the future. Far better to introduce a sliding scale, say 10% for those on £25k, with 2.5% for those earning 100k, pegged at a maximum of £2500 for those earning above £100k.
Labour needs to show they are different
Our Country is crying out for change. Labour needs to show they are different. They need to show that they are going to address some of the obscene inequalities in our society, otherwise what’s their point.
Many voters will simply see them as the Conservative Party, rebranded under a different name.
