Removing cartoon murals for refugee kids? The Tories really are the nasty party

Just when you thought the Tories could stoop no lower, it is reported that Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick allegedly ordered staff at a reception centre for child refugees to paint over a Mickey Mouse mural, among others, because it was “too welcoming”.

The paintings had been done to give comfort to lone children, some as young as nine, who were absolutely terrified after arriving in the UK by small boats. The word “evil” can become overused, but it is hard to describe these heartless actions as anything other than that.

The hostile environment has become so entrenched, that today we have lost sight of all humanity. One can only hope that the next election sees those seats coloured blue on the election map similarly painted over.

Alex Orr

Edinburgh

Just when you thought there couldn’t be any more depressing news about what 13 years of Tory rule has done to our country, The Times Health Commision reveals the shameful truth.

To add to the litany of problems our adult health and social care systems face, ground down by underfunding and years of austerity, we discover the extent to which child health care has deteriorated in tandem.

I am personally aware of several instances of parents of young children finding it impossible to locate a NHS dentist to carry out checkups at a crucial time for oral health. The utter disregard that this government has for the welfare of children is perhaps epitomised by Robert Jenrick’s alleged insistence that the cartoon murals at a reception centre for child refugees be removed.

Proof (if it was needed) that the Conservatives really are the nasty party.

David Felton

Cheshire

The proposed mass closure of rail ticket offices in England will have a hugely detrimental impact on blind and partially sighted people’s ability to buy tickets, arrange assistance, and – critically – travel independently.

Ticket offices are not just about selling tickets. They provide a reliable first point of contact for many kinds of staff assistance such as arranging sighted guidance through the station and safely onto the train to advising on any changes to a passenger’s journey.

The government claims it wants to “bring staff out from behind the glass” but, in truth, it risks leaving blind and partially-sighted people behind a new barrier. Modernisation of our railways doesn’t just mean apps and touchscreens; modernisation means inclusivity and not leaving anyone behind. We urge the transport secretary to rethink these proposals.

Matt Stringer

Chief Executive Officer National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)

Katie Edwards makes some valid points regarding Keir Starmer’s recent “outburst”. It would be a mistake for Labour to be too dictatorial on this high profile issue because it does concern more and more people. Of course, the creation of sustainable jobs should be very high on the agenda but sometimes I think the Labour hierarchy wants to be all things to all people and this is a detrimental course of action that won’t win hearts and minds.

But what do I know (as I too am a long-term Labour voter) is that come the election, everything will settle down with this party in office and we will all exhale a huge sigh of relief and hug the nearest tree with sheer unalloyed delight.

Judith A. Daniels

Norfolk

Pension fund companies have a  responsibility to safeguard pensioners funds for the long term but I didn’t see any indication of this in Jeremy Hunt’s Mansion House speech. Indeed the chancellor’s tone was quite the opposite. He appears to have given pension companies the green light to invest our hard-earned pension money in more riskier investments.

Although we desperately need more investment money coming into the economy Jeremy Hunt wants this to come from those that will both benefit least and risk the most. He cites Australia as investing much more from pension funds than Britain but, compared to Britain, Australia is a financial Wild West.

There must be better, tighter legislation in the governance of Britain’s financial marketplace. If the standards of efficacy are relaxed to excite our financial markets without these controls it will further encourage an influx of dubious finance.

Britain is already a major centre for laundered money which undermines economies and corrupts entire countries. Do we really need changes to our financial industry which may reduce the wealth of others? Is this a desperate ploy for votes? The government is already penalising the people of Britain by not using better inflation/financial management. We are paying the price of 13 years of Tory mismanagement while all around us companies and banks are making huge profits with the agreement of a compliant government.

Keith Poole                 

Basingstoke