How much is too much? As junior doctors continue their 4-day strike for better pay, health secretary, Steve Barclay, has called their demand for a 35% pay rise ‘not fair or reasonable’ – a statement some Metro readers seem to agree with.
The plight of the junior doctors is very much felt with readers saying they back their need for higher pay, but ask could their absence be adding to the current pressures already faced by an underfunded, understaffed, overstretched NHS?
Would a more, ‘demure approach’ as one reader puts it, garner them more respect? Or, are these among the reasons they are striking in the first place?
Meanwhile, things got heated in yesterday’s (MetroTalk, Tue) discussion of Labour’s recent ‘negative’ campaigning methods, but is it in ‘bad taste’ for the opposition to point out government failings or is this Labour’s bid for votes in next year’s general election?
Let us know in the comments.
■ I’m in support of the junior doctors’ strike for a 35 per cent pay increase (Metro, Wed), which the government regards as inappropriate and unaffordable to taxpayers.
What was inappropriate and unaffordable to taxpayers was the vast number of fraudulent claims paid to false start-up companies during the pandemic and the extreme costs paid for substandard PPE.
Worse still, most of this money is irretrievable because of the government’s incompetence.
Malco, Chislehurst
■ Junior doctors, as much as we feel for your plight and back your need for higher pay (35 per cent?!), to those on the picket lines, please stop jumping up and down, waving banners, grinning from ear to ear and screeching into loudhailers.
Your actions are putting a significant burden on the already overstretched NHS, as well as postponing long-awaited procedures and, in some cases, putting lives at risk.
Of course, protest, but a more demure approach is more likely to garner respect.
H Thaxton, Walton-on-Thames
■ It’s strange to think that junior doctors are on strike. When they enter this vocation, it’s supposed to be a caring profession and not about money, but the evil of society has now taken over and greed is the one element in these strikes.
My mother was a nurse in the war years. How the British Medical Association and unions have ruined the reputation of these so-called highly educated professionals.
James Bradshaw, London
■ Perhaps the placard held by the junior doctor in London saying ‘Under-staffed, under-valued, under-paid’ (Metro, Wed) should have ‘Over-greedy’ on it, too. Yes, junior doctors deserve a pay rise but 35 per cent is crazy. Sorry, but I’m afraid you no longer have my support. Caring profession, I don’t think.
Vicki, West Midlands
■ In solidarity with junior doctors, I have ceased all DIY activities. I shall walk to the shops, not drive and, last but not least, shall not be attending any raves or orgies!
Robert Boston, Kings Hill, Kent
Labour’s advert may be in bad taste but…
■ Several correspondents (MetroTalk, Wed) criticise Labour for ‘negative campaigning’ and having ‘bad taste’ over its advert suggesting Rishi Sunak doesn’t think child sex abusers should go to jail.
The government that Sunak now leads took the political decisions to cut police numbers, close police stations, cut the level of police community support officers and underfund the courts system.
It may be in bad taste and negative to mention it, but these decisions were taken knowing full well that they would lead to more crime and delayed – or non-existent – justice for victims.
Martin, London
■ The ad for Labour is misleading and not in good taste. But what is these days?
Sir Keir Starmer will lose votes from Labour voters but more because he stabbed Jeremy Corbyn in the back just as much as the Tories did.
Jan, Tyne and Wear
Enjoying the view, some good advice, being fashionably late, and modern democracy
■ Why do so many people take an upstairs front bus seat and then stare at their phone for the entire journey? Please leave these sought-after seats for those of us who actually like to see where we’re going.
Chris, London
■ As regards your article on whether hugging work colleagues is acceptable (Metro, Wed), as a general rule if you have to think ‘Is this appropriate?’ it probably isn’t – so don’t do it.
Neil Dance, Birmingham
■ What are the chances of me waiting until I can watch the whole of the
TV show Succession in one go without finding out what everyone is talking about in this latest episode three?
Rents, Leith
■ Curious suggestion from Andrew McLuskey (MetroTalk, Wed) regarding our future monarchy. I have no idea what he means by saying ‘it needs to be brought into line with modern democratic norms’.
HG, Maidstone
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MORE : What is a junior doctor and how much do they earn as strikes continue?
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