Balancing the books
Peugeot jobs
Dear Editor, Why has Peugeot picked Coventry for 850 job cuts? Peugeot is already one of the most profitable car companies in Europe, making £5.5 billion net profit over the last five years.
Peugeot itself talks of rising competition in the small cars sector. Well it should know, having recently built a factory with Toyota in the Czech Republic costing £1 billion and capable of making 300,000 small cars a year.
Here comes the real reason. Having invested in extra production in countries with cheaper wages than the UK, Peugeot now looks to sackings in Coventry to balance the books.
Yet we shouldnt be surprised. Its far too easy to sack workers in this country, because weve got the weakest employment laws in Western Europe. Whilst I note that local Labour MPs are seeking meetings with management, it would be of more interest to know what they are saying to their Government about employment legislation.
Quite frankly, its a scandal that the Labour Government stands idly by and lets multinationals sack workers in this country because its easier for them to do so than in Europe. Weak employment laws, originally brought in by the Tories and untouched in eight years of Labour Government, should be a major election issue.
Coun Dave Nellist
Socialist Group, Coventry
Name and shame
Dear Editor - I note that Judge Richard Mawrey QC has withdrawn his threat to name and shame political activists on the grounds that they would not be entitled to legal aid and it could be in breach of human rights.
These people should be given legal aid and if found guilty then named and shamed, banned from voting in elections and banned for life from standing as candidates.
The actions of these people can easily lead to a dictatorship and who wants that?
One must also consider the human rights of the electorate in the wards whom I am sure would want to know if their prospective candidate is corrupt or not. A leopard does not change its spots.
There is a General Election coming soon.
I hope the postal voting system is made foolproof, failing which it should be suspended until it is.
RGB
Walsall
Our shortsighted chancellor
Budget
Dear Editor, What a shortsighted man is Gordon Brown. Business lost the commercial property stamp duty relief previously available for investing in disadvantaged areas.
All the Brown waffle about raising the stamp duty threshold to £120,000 for domestic properties as he removes a valuable incentive for real investment in rundown areas. Ponder what manner of family home costs less than £120,000 and you begin to see the greedy cynicism of Brown.
He is someone whose chickens have yet to start roosting: I almost hope he, not some other fool, will be there to face the results of the meltdown of the worlds fourth largest economy.
Greville Warwick
Chairman Warwick & Leamington UKIP and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate
Has exhibit been stuffed?
Dear Editor, - I was very interested in Ken Unwins letter and John Aldens reply (Post, March 23).
I remember as a small boy being taken to Birmingham Museum (right) to see in the natural history section, before WWII, the Chase collection of birds. This was presented to the Museum by Thomas Chase,
Apothecary of Five Ways, who was my great uncle.
I too would like to know what has happened to this particular collection of over 100 specimens. One of
Thomas Chases hobbies was taxidermy, hence the gift.
Lenoard T Chase
Leominster
For animal experiments
Dear Editor, Britains leading science and medical organisations have just announced they are backing a study to examine the scientific basis of research using nonhuman primates.
Animal rights campaigners often criticise the value of such experiments.
Correspondence will not be published without a name and address. Mail: The Editor, Birmingham Post, Weaman Street, Birmingham B4 6AT Telephone: 0121 234 5999 from 2pm to 9pm Fax: 0121 625 1105 E-mail: post_letters@mrn.co.uk The comments from our readers are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Birmingham Post |
However, I have Parkinsons and six years ago underwent an operation called Deep Brain Stimulation. Without my brain implant I would have a continuous tremor. I would not be able to feed or dress myself and personal hygiene would be impossible.
DBS was developed using monkeys, as they resemble us in so many ways. I owe my quality of life in part to them.
The current treatments, however welcome, address the symptoms of the disease and we need to move towards a cure. Some animal research, a small part in monkeys, will be needed to make that progress.
Mike Robins
On behalf of the Coalition for Medical Progress
