Letters - July 12, 2018

Talking to constituents on the doorstep, I’ve always heard a clear message from the people of Blackpool North and Cleveleys: we’re frustrated that we don’t make things in this country anymore, and we’re united in demanding jobs – the decent, skilled and secure kinds of work that come with manufacturing and industry.

There is, it seems, one person in our community who disagrees. Paul Maynard MP was yesterday set to vote in the House of Commons against Labour’s proposal for £1bn of Royal Navy’s Fleet ‘Solid Support’ to be built in British shipyards. Instead, they want this enormous contract for building a Royal Navy support ship to go out to international bidders.

Paul’s decision is shameful, a partisan choice that puts party politics and corporate interest above the good of the country – above what the public clearly hopes Britain should be.

The Conservatives frequently give enormous contracts to companies backed by other countries’ governments – contracts to build our ships, and also to run our railways and our utilities – but then insists the UK state can’t do these things itself.

Our MP and his party won’t back workers in the UK, but the next Labour government will. Let’s build it in Britain.

Chris Webb

Labour, Blackpool North 
and Cleveleys

POLITICS

At last we are free of slovenly Boris

At last the government and nation is rid of Boris Johnson.

Seldom have I been so delighted to see a politician depart the cabinet. He should have been sacked months ago. Johnson is by any measure the worst Foreign Secretary since 1945.

His slovenly appearance, dress, gaffes and intemperate language brought disgrace to one of the great offices of state. European equivalents openly voiced their dislike of him. He is also one of the worst speakers in the Commons.

Jeremy Hunt has all the attributes of a highly respected and effective Foreign Secretary.

Dr Barry Clayton

Thornton Cleveleys

BREXIT

Would he have stayed in Cabinet?

Did the resignation of David Davis, belatedly trigger Boris Johnson’s resignation from Ministerial office, or would he have clung to office like his co-Brexiteer Michael Gove.

His scathing letter of resignation, forcefully criticising the Prime Minister, should surely have been penned last Friday or Saturday. As far as I can tell, Mrs May’s Brexit Plan, which she claimed the entire Cabinet had agreed to after the Chequers meeting, remains the same.

Perhaps at the time he could not face the long walk home, in that case he should have taken his bike with him.

Denis Lee

Ashton

FRACKING

Sewer repairs I 
can forgive...

Frank Martin calls myself and Brian Coope intolerant and says that the road delays are no worse than those caused by the recent sewer repairs (Your Say, July 10).

The big difference, Mr Martin, is that there will always be times to when it is necessary to cause disruption by digging holes in the road to attend to whatever lies beneath or to resurface. It is part of a road user’s life, and frustrating though it may be at the time, we can understand the reason for it.

What is far less tolerable are queues, at busy times often a mile long, caused by a dozen or more people lying wrapped up in sleeping bags completely blocking two lanes of a very busy main road or some smirking protester sitting on top of a delivery vehicle in the knowledge that it cannot be moved in case he falls off and hurts himself.

I do, Mr Martin, fully understand and appreciate everyone’s right to free speech and peaceful protest but there are lines to be drawn. If you continue to target the thousands of commuters, many of whom, whatever you say, are completely indifferent to Cuadrilla’s presence, you may find that you have gained more enemies than friends.

In the meantime, Cuadrilla are continuing to operate behind their fence and security people, completely unaffected by your actions.

Mike Mogilnicki

Westby