Are Labour merely Tories in sheep's clothing?

RACHEL Reeves' "no return to austerity" speech leaves me cold.

The First World War song, the bells of hell go ding a ling for you but not for me, springs to mind.

She is insulated with her wealth, but thousands of pensioners will suffer severe hardship this winter with the cutting of the winter fuel payments to only those who are receiving certain benefits.

The analysis of means testing is: mean by name and by cruel by nature.

Many do not even know how to claim what they are entitled to, so complicated are the hoops you have to go through to achieve that humble pie result.

Labour was about protecting vulnerable people; are they Tories in sheep's clothing?

Phil Shepherdson,

Woodthorpe,

York

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Labour freebies: keep it in perspective

TO the Tories throwing around sleaze allegations about Sir Keir Starmer.

Boris Johnson spent more money on the renovation of the Downing Street flat than Sir Keir Starmer has received in gifts since 2019.

Enough said.

Geoffrey Brooking,

Saxley Court,

Havant,

Hampshire

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Labour leaders make fine panto cast

CASTING the Labour Party conference into pantomime mode - here's how it would look.

Written and produced by Sue Gray after a large cash incentive.

The leading role is taken by Keir Starmer usually a female but he does not seem to know the difference.

The next role is by Angela Rayner acting as Bob the Builder. A uniform to fit the act has been supplied by Lord Alli made up of plaid shirt, boots, gold-plated hard hat and jeans.

This is followed by Rachel Reeves taking not the role of Robin Hood but the Sheriff of Nottingham stealing from everybody to fill fictitious black holes so she can waste cash big time.

Followed by David Lammy waving his arms about like a boxer in training and creating a dust with his worn-out trainers. Finally Yvette Cooper as a pixie minus the magic windmill as David Milliband wants that. She is overseeing a mass exodus of illegals hoping that some are builders to help Angela in her quest for houses.

The costumes all paid for and donated by Lord Alli. Seats available with a cash donation to any of the above.

Cheering is allowed by the audience but people booing will be ejected.

T J Ryder,

Acomb,

York

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Local government should stay local

THE clue is in the title - Local Government. Councillors in York are not elected to pontificate on international affairs or a conflict two and a half thousand miles away.

They are elected to deal with the running of this city. Nothing less and nothing more. York has never been more dysfunctional or looked more shabby than it does at present.

It would be far better if elected members concentrated their energies on trying to solve the substantial problems within the boundaries of this authority.

They have no remit to comment on Middle Eastern politics and taxpayers have a right to expect them to do what they’re paid to do; not waste time or money on matters that have nothing to do with them.

Matthew Laverack,

Lord Mayors Walk,

York

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