RECENT news stories bring to mind a couple of old adages.

The “pleb” name-calling, which is, no doubt, going to cost the taxpayer vast amounts of money for the inquiry, could easily have been sorted by the use of the adage “Sticks and stones may break my bones…”

It was reported in The Press that on two occasions since being elected, the local police and crime commissioner set up committees to her help make decisions, and now it is reported that she cannot find a suitable candidate for the position of chief constable, which has been filled eminently satisfactorily by Tim Madgwick for quite a number of months.

This brings to mind: “If you can’t stand the heat…”

On the financial and austerity side, if George “no economic qualifications” Osborne didn’t give billions away to other countries or finance the fighting other people’s wars, he would not have to borrow for this purpose, thus reducing the UK debt.

R Hutchinson, Manor Park Close, York.