When can we make a true comparison between Conservative and Labour governments
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.
'Brexit has shown that Europe and the EU were never the problem with the UK' says reader
In response to Gary, we do not need to wait and see. All the things listed didn't happen in the (barely one year) since Labour has been in power versus the 14 years the Conservatives were at the helm. It's, therefore, wrong to think you can now lay it all at Keir Starmer's feet, whatever his shortcomings.
And as for the worsening uncontrolled immigration situation? Well, you can lay that squarely on Brexit. Europe has no reason to want to aid the UK anymore on this issue – it was hard enough when we were part of the EU!
So yes, it's worse now. But Starmer is doing the right things to hopefully ensure we can once again control immigration to this country.
It will take time. If there's one good thing to say about Brexit it is that it has shown that Europe and the EU were never the problem with the UK.
So let's please stop this wilful ignorance about why things are the way they are now in this country. Agatha, Surrey
Does a lack of strikes equal a 'sleight of hand'?
I'm not sure why Gary from Essex (MetroTalk, Wed) chooses to characterise hospitals now meeting appointments due to lack of strikes as a government 'sleight of hand'.
Does he perhaps feel that the previous lot's abysmal performance was in fact the norm and that any improvement must be some kind of trick?Martin, London
'Labour havent 'given in', doctors have been underpaid despite doing God's work', reader defends Labour parties performance
This reader defends the Labour party and NHS doctors (Picture: Jack Hill –)
Gary is right in that we will have to wait five years for a true comparison between Labour and Conservative performances. But I would like to address some of the points he made.
Unemployment going up has nothing to do with Labour and, with regards to small businesses closing at their highest rate in more than ten years, file that under Brexit – which was under the Conservatives' watch. Government borrowing? Well that's squarely down to the Tory black hole, and Brexit again.
Got a question about UK politics?
Send in yours and Metro's Senior Politics Reporter Craig Munro will answer it in an upcoming edition of our weekly politics newsletter. Email alrightgov@metro.co.uk or submit your question here.
As for waiting list times, they have improved. And, as the partner of a doctor, Labour haven't 'given in'. Doctors have been underpaid in relative terms for ten or so years – despite the fact they're doing God's work.
As to his final point regarding illegal immigration being up, that's down to Brexit, which was voted for by every district in Essex – and I'm assuming that includes Greg by the sounds of things. Greg, Highgate
Reader comments on the cost on providing medical aid to children from Gaza
Adrian Appleby (MetroTalk, Wed) is worrying about how the UK is going to be able to afford treatment for children wounded because of the war in Gaza (MetroTalk, Wed).
He needn't fret so much, the profits we've made from the sale of the bombs and the bullets and the various aircraft parts will more than make up for the damage wrought upon their tiny bodies from the blasts that killed their families…P Guy, Liverpool
'the lost art of queuing at bus stops'
Further to your letter about the lost art of queuing at bus stops (MetroTalk, Wed), I once worked with a very experienced TV presenter and she had a saying to describe certain people who were slightly pushy in personality as 'last at the bus stop, first on the bus'.
I always to this day smile at bus stops as I think of those extremely wise words. Jan, London
Bring back the queue! Reader knows how to crack a smile on public transport (Picture: Getty Images)
'Nothing is perfect', reader expresses support for the NHS
I find the words 'shames the NHS' on the front page of Monday's Metro unfortunate.
Of course what this patient experienced with a rat found in her drawers was very unpleasant, but 'shame' is too strong a word and smacks of over-generalisation. This happens all too often, be it about the NHS or other issues. We have found the NHS to be wonderful in dealing with my husband's ill-health, in particular over the last few months.
The staff have treated him with nothing but kindness, professionalism and patience, all while under enormous pressure. They could even have been forgiven for any mistakes made – within reason of course.
Nothing is perfect and the NHS should not be castigated in this way. Pat Horitz, Dorking
Reader asks, 'why should my taxes pay for other peoples weight-loss drugs'?
Why should my taxes pay for other people's weight-loss drugs and follow-up support on the NHS (Metro, Tue)? It's not an illness. It's over-eating, bad diet and lack of willpower to stop.
I don't mind paying for treatment of illness, but not this. KT, Edin
'Start treating people the same and help everybody' says reader
Are school uniform prices getting out of hand? (Picture: Getty Images)
Once again the government are being called upon to help pay for school uniforms for people on benefits, with debt adviser Money Wellness looking for grants to be made available across the UK for low-income households.
What about the couples who are working hard to provide for their family but don't come into the government's bracket when it comes to extortionate prices for school uniforms that have to be bought from specific outlets? This includes state schools, not only private.
Come on, if you care, start treating people the same and help everybody. Den, Dartford
Is there something wrong with our electoral system?
Further to Rory O'Kelly's summations (MetroTalk, Wed), there must be something terribly wrong with our electoral system when a party can win an election with 3million fewer votes than it received when it lost the election some years earlier. Roger Smith, Witham
How quickly can you solve our crossword?
I just wanted to give you guys a pat on the back for publishing my letter today light-heartedly taking the rise out of your inadvertent double entendre headline about rat droppings found in a lady's drawers.
We all slip up now and then, and you could so easily have ignored my letter but you saw the funny side and didn't mind bringing attention to your slip up. I am impressed!
Incidentally, thank you for a really good, free paper which I enjoy every day, especially the quick crossword. This morning, I achieved a personal best, solving it within four minutes. My chest will be puffed out all day. William Buckley, Reading
Arrow MORE: The Metro daily cartoon by Guy Venables
Arrow MORE: Dr. Sam's Clarity Kit hailed 'the best skincare' by customers to treat acne breakouts
Arrow MORE: We've found Molly-Mae Hague's exact chunky pearl earrings – and they're gorgeous
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
9 minutes ago
- BBC News
Peterborough youth services to receive extra funding
Peterborough could be home to the region's first "youth zone" and has ambitions to become a "child-friendly" city, according to the local authority, which is set to receive funding under a new government Minister Sir Keir Starmer says money for young people's activities will be made available across the country, to be used for things such as youth clubs and music.A share of the £88m is set to go to Peterborough City the exact amount the city will get has not been revealed, Katy Cole, the authority's cabinet member for children's services, said the council was "absolutely delighted" to have secured the funding. The government said on Thursday that the money would be used to support projects for children "growing up in a digital world" by offering more opportunities in their City Council, which is run by a minority Labour administration, said it would work to draw up an action plan to develop "high-quality" offerings for young people. Leader Dennis Jones said: "Too many people have told us for too long that there is nothing for young people to do."As a former youth and community worker, I see our government's announcement as a truly positive initiative that complements all we wish to see for our children and young people." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Spectator
38 minutes ago
- Spectator
Reform's motherland, Meloni's Italian renaissance & the adults learning to swim
First: Nigel Farage is winning over women Does – or did – Nigel Farage have a woman problem? 'Around me there's always been a perception of a laddish culture,' he tells political editor Tim Shipman. In last year's election, 58 per cent of Reform voters were men. But, Shipman argues, 'that has begun to change'. According to More in Common, Reform has gained 14% among women, while Labour has lost 12%. 'Women are 'more likely than men… to worry that the country is broken.' Many of Reform's most recent victories have been by women: Andrea Jenkyns in the mayoral elections, Sarah Pochin to Parliament; plus, there most recent high profile defections include a former Tory Welsh Assembly member and a former Labour London councillor. What makes Reform's success with women all the more remarkable is that it appears organic; 'we haven't forced this' says Farage. So why are women turning to Reform UK? Tim Shipman and Sarah Pochin MP join the podcast to discuss. Next: is Italy experiencing a renaissance? From Italy, Owen Matthews argues that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has revived her nation. While he says that Italy has been 'suffering from the same economic malaise' as the rest of Europe, the macroeconomics covers up the true affordability of the country. Espressos cost €1.20, pizzas are no more than €10, and rents in even the swankiest areas are 'laughably' cheap compared to Britain. Plus, Owen sees none of the 'media catastrophisation' over issues like immigration, social cohesion and militant Islam that appears to grip the UK. So how has Meloni done it? To discuss, Owen joined the podcast alongside Antonello Guerrera, UK & Westminster correspondent for the Italian newspaper Repubblica. And finally: one in three British adults cannot swim This week, Iram Ramzan provides her 'notes on' learning to swim saying, 'it's humiliating to admit that at 37' she can't. She's not alone though – one third of British adults cannot swim, and the proportion appears to be rising. Iram highlights the disparities between different communities; 76 percent of South Asian women for example cannot swim 25 metres. Iram joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside fitness professional and entrepreneur Elle Linton who also learnt to swim in her thirties. Plus: what small error led Rachel Johnson to get a telling off from Noel Gallagher? And Max Jeffery reports from court, where the Spectator and Douglas Murray have won a defamation claim brought against them by Mohammed Hijab. Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
The Guardian
39 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Dozens more countries face higher taxes on exports to US as new Trump tariffs come into effect
Dozens of countries face higher taxes on their exports to the US now that Donald Trump's latest wave of country-specific tariffs have come into force. The sweeping 'reciprocal' levies announced by the White House a week ago – just before a previous 1 August deadline was due to elapse – were in place as of a minute past midnight Washington time on Thursday. Just before midnight, Trump claimed on social media that billions of dollars would start flowing into the US as a result of the tariffs. 'The only thing that can stop America's greatness would be a radical left court that wants to see our country fail,' the president wrote in capital letters, referencing an ongoing case in the US court of appeals which is considering whether he exceeded his authority in imposing the 'reciprocal' tariffs. The rates range from 41% on war-torn Syria to 10% for the UK and will be applied on top of the usual tariffs applying to products imported to the US. This means that while Brazil's 'reciprocal' level is 10%, its total rate is 50% after an executive order imposed a 40% additional levy from Wednesday linked to the prosecution of the country's former president Jair Bolsonaro. The EU is the only trading partner where its baseline rate – set at 15% after a framework deal – will include previous tariffs. It means, for example, cheeses that are normally hit with import duties of 14.9% will be taxed at 15% and not 29.9%. Since the announcement late on Thursday last week, governments around the world have been racing to try to reach deals to avert border taxes they fear could deter investors and result in job losses. The Swiss president, Karin Keller-Sutter, was in Washington on Tuesday for two days of meetings with senior Trump administration officials to try to reverse a 39% levy that blindsided the government when it was unveiled. Meanwhile, India's 25% tariff rate could rise to a total of 50% after Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday imposing an additional levy in retaliation for the country's purchase of oil from Russia. Delhi has 21 days to respond. Trump has threatened to use the same tactic on other countries that supply Russia. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Trump first unveiled the raft of country-specific rates on 2 April, a date he called 'liberation day', claiming the rest of the world had looted the US for decades. After a 90-day pause brought in a week later and another four-week truce announced on 7 July, he confirmed the new set of rates last Friday. Some trading partners secured reductions via negotiations or by striking deals, including the UK, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan and the EU. Other countries are negotiating tariffs not covered by last week's announcement. Canada has been hit with a total rate of 35% that came in last Friday, while Mexico avoided an increase from its 25% rate on the same date after it was granted a 90-day extension. China faces a 30% rate while negotiations continue before its separate 12 August deadline for higher rates. On Wednesday, Trump also warned that the US would impose a tariff of about 100% on semiconductor chips imported from countries not producing in America or planning to do so.
