'Budget shows how far Labour are removed from reality'

I refer of course to Labour’s victory in the July 2024 general election (I make no apologies for my lack of the use of titles for these individuals – titles are a mark of respect – they have done nothing to earn my respect).

The Budget delivered by Reeves on October 30 indicates how far removed from reality this Labour government really is, with her vindictive attack on pensioners and pensions, small businesses, large businesses and the agricultural community to name but a few.

All of which cannot fail to seriously affect “the working man”.

The budget is nothing short of an economic and cultural assault orchestrated by a labour government with no grasp of reality.

Reeves and her colleagues clearly assume that businesses can just absorb the hit, with no effect on "the working man".

Her assault on pensions and pensioners continues the previous Labour government’s attack on pensions when Gordon Brown decimated and destroyed virtually all defined benefits schemes (except for those enjoyed by public servants).

They must really hate pensioners.

They're blind to the fact that family farms don't operate with endless profit margins.

The average farmer in the UK earns a fraction of what MPs like Starmer and Reeves earn, yet Labour seems intent on wringing them dry to fuel their reckless spending agenda.

Mr Jessop asks if this government realises how important farming is to this country’s food security “Taxing farmers” (D&S letters, Nov 8).

Clearly not, which in Reeves’ case is difficult to comprehend since her husband is the second permanent secretary and group chief operating officer of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

If his attitude towards the farming community is the same as hers, perhaps we don’t have the right man in the job.

And what experience do Reeves, Starmer, Rayner or indeed, any of the Labour frontbench have in running a business? None.

They've never faced the brutal reality of making payroll or the hard choice of keeping the lights on in tough times.

I hope all you Labour voters are satisfied with your actions.

Danny Myers, Northallerton.

River Ure

WITH reference to your article as to how contaminated the River Ure is, which is not in dispute, I find it incredible that the Environment Agency can only reply with a lot of hot air, but no promises as to how they are going to put right this appalling mess, “New River Ure tests produce ‘very disappointing’ results” (D&S Times, Nov 8).

The people who use this river (for fishing, canoeing, recreation, swimming etc) want answers not words.

What organisations are Ofwat and the Environment Agency working with, how much funding is being given and when is it being forwarded, who is going to support this project and when, what initiatives and technical advice have they produced so far if any.

These are the questions that the public want answering but not with fancy word speak.

Ofwat are supposed to be safeguarding our rivers and the public from excessive bills but all they seem to do is kowtow to the water companies and allow them to keep putting up our bills while paying themselves outrageous salaries and paying out millions in dividends to the shareholders.

While all this is allowed to go on our rivers will continue to be polluted.

Derek Lawton, West Rounton, Northallerton.

Fireworks danger

ISN'T it about time Darlington Borough Council and other councils banned the use of fireworks?

The dangers of using these outdated fireworks are unbelievable, such as the release of harmful pollutants like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide.

This can increase the risk of chronic cough and other lung diseases and can make symptoms worse for people with asthma.

Not to mention the serious injuries fireworks can cause including hearing damage and also the damage they can cause to homes and injury to peoples pets.

Not to mention the cause of wildfires, and the damage to wildlife, these are just a few reasons the council should lead the way forward to ban the sale of fireworks.

Images coming from Teesside regarding the use of fireworks are like images from Lebanon. There's enough gun powder getting released into the atmosphere without us adding to it just for fun.

The tax should be trebled on the sale of these dangerous fireworks to start with.

Stan Wilby, Darlington.

Women’s rights

SO over 75 million of the population of the USA voted Donald Trump into office for a second time – a good decision?

Only time will tell.

The result of the election does seem to indicate at least one positive – that is an awful lot of women voters have voted against the destruction of unborn babies.

Some of the Kamala Harris campaign did quite rightly include women's rights over their own bodies but surely this should not be at the expense of the unborn.

Mike Taylor, Darlington.

Careless votes

TO elect Donald J Trump as President of the USA once may be regarded as a misfortune. But to do so twice seems to me like carelessness.

May I recommend to you all the very excellent book written by his niece, Mary L Trump entitled "Too Much And Never Enough" which takes apart his reputation as a great businessman.

The book's contents were independently verified by The New York Times.

Nigel Boddy. secretary to the Darlington Lib Dems.

Their choice

IT is not for the people of this country to berate the American electorate for voting in the way that they have, it is their country, their choice.

However, the UK public should be very concerned at the deplorable left wing bias reaction by the UK mainstream media covering the election and subsequent win for the Republican party. At a stroke, our country has had to witness a truly undignified response by journalists and pundits alike across the board who clearly demonstrated their inability to report on this important event in a balanced and independent manner.

Mike Kerr, Darlington.

Trump supporter

I AM glad Donald Trump has been elected president of the USA.

I can see all those white, supposedly intelligent (I am more woke than you) liberals, living in a bubble, Guardian readers, rolling their eyes at what I have said, or those lefty Hollywood celebrities with their cringeworthy Oscar acceptance speeches saying that their woke politics is what is needed to put the world to rights.

I know Donald Trump is a convicted felon and he says some stupid things at times but I think he had a point when he said that there was voter fraud at the last election.

I would vote for Trump because I know he is going to improve the economy, and tackle illegal immigration (even immigrants stated this was one of the reasons they voted for him), start fracking again to tackle the increasing energy prices and do away with green energy subsidies which is why the UK has one of the highest home energy prices apart from disfiguring the countryside with inefficient 'windmills'.

Hopefully he will end the war with Ukraine whilst standing up to the instigator of most terrorism, Iran.

Thomas Ball, Barnard Castle.

State pension

WITH reference to Mr Thackray’s letter in last week’s edition “Second class” (D&S letters, Nov 8), the state pension is something that I have been expressing concerns about for some years.

Only Rishi Sunak MP over the years has taken the time to correspond with me on this matter.

Of course, we all know that the current Government are simply disinterested in any issues to do with pensioners.

Rishi has provided me with lengthy explanations as to the reasons for the different levels in the state pension brought about eight years ago but unfortunately has not given any satisfactory reason as to why these inequalities exist.

What valid reason is there why pensioners born before April 1, 1951 receive approximately £200 a month less state pension than people who were born after April 1, 1951?

What logical reason could there be for ruling that the cut-off date would be April 1, 1951?

I fully understand that politicians will just wait for time to pass so that the issue will simply disappear as those of us born before that date die off.

However, this also affects after they die their widow or widower – so they are also being unjustly penalised in their lifetimes.

Indeed, how many people aged over 74 actually realise that they are being substantially penalised by this?

This affects over one million pensioners.

Why was there such a financial difference accorded between those born before and after the stipulated date? Would it not have been fairer to have made the gap more graduated?

In answer to a petition submitted to the 2019/2024 Parliament the Government responded that all pensioners received additional benefits such as the winter fuel payment – not anymore!

This group of citizens are the most vulnerable in the country yet are victimised continually. The whole scenario cannot be fair by any logical reasoning.

The Post Office scandal adversely affected around 1,000 people – this affects ten times that number.

Paul Atkin, Northallerton.

Lighten up

AREN’T the murder mysteries shown on the various media platforms just brilliant!

Virtually every night we are treated to numerous thrillers where the various sleuths pursue the perpetrators to their inevitable downfall.

But once they get indoors why it is so dim? You just cannot see what is happening.

The ‘film noir’ genre was adopted to produce pessimism, fatalism and menace (as in The Big Sleep) and the same applies today.

But why is it to such an annoying degree?

Surely an essential part of the actor’s skill is to create rounded characters through facial expressions, vocalisation and body language – but it is very difficult for the viewer see this it in the dark.

The darkened scenes are a useful film technique but it is a mystery when it seeps into real life.

In pubs, restaurants, and discos etc it is so gloomy you cannot even read the menus.

Or maybe I should just "lighten up" and accept the status quo!

Tom Parkin, Howden le Wear, Crook.