24 January 2024 , 21:02
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Letterbox let-down
The Royal Mail was once lauded around the world for its reliability and efficiency. After being privatised by the coalition Government it is now a shadow of its old self. Regulator Ofcom is now recommending that deliveries could be reduced to three days a week so that it can remain a going concern.
The Government should block this demand. While the number of letters we post has fallen, we are sending more parcels than ever. The Royal Mail had the staff and infrastructure in place to capitalise on the expansion in online shopping and home deliveries.
Instead of investing money to adapt to this changing market, the company has handed shareholders more than £2billion in dividends. Customers are shouldering the price for the folly of selling off this great institution. With stamp prices almost doubling since privatisation, they are paying more for a worse service.
Obesity alert
A worrying legacy of Covid could be a generation of overweight children. Research found obesity rates surged among young people while constrained in lockdown. Treating associated conditions such as heart disease and obesity could end up costing the NHS an extra £8billion.
This can be avoided if the Government invests more in school sports and opportunities for young people to exercise. And we need more emphasis on teaching the importance of a healthy diet and ensuring all families have access to affordable, nutritious food.
Woman tells of losing 29 kilos and becoming a bodybuilder in her 60s
This Government has failed to provide sufficient support to help children catch up with lost learning from pandemic. To stand by in the face of this looming health crisis would be a second betrayal.
Sorry episode
The Tory party’s infighting and feuding was yesterday compared to EastEnders. But Rishi Sunak couldn’t run the Queen Vic, let alone a country. He would be met with shouts of: “Rishaaay, you’re bang out of order.”