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Since my Nan had a stroke, I've been very conscious of my blood-pressure.
Then I made the mistake of reading this opinion piece that's LACED with stereotypes, lies, assumptions & sheer lack of solutions quite frankly.
Let's dissect the claims
THREAD
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/stop-talking-down-north-now-time-talk-it-nick-fletcher-3135345
Then I made the mistake of reading this opinion piece that's LACED with stereotypes, lies, assumptions & sheer lack of solutions quite frankly.
Let's dissect the claims
THREAD https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/stop-talking-down-north-now-time-talk-it-nick-fletcher-3135345
1) Nick opens with: "this Government is still a ‘new’ one".
This is to make us think the Torys are bringing something different. It's been 11 years of Tories in power-THEIR POLICIES.
This is an important point to make as it gives us context for the rest of the points he makes.
This is to make us think the Torys are bringing something different. It's been 11 years of Tories in power-THEIR POLICIES.
This is an important point to make as it gives us context for the rest of the points he makes.
2) Lobbying for flood defense in areas badly hit by flood is not - repeat after me - a "levelling up" agenda/task. It's a BARE BASIC CARE investment. He fails to say how Tories left Doncaster out of the Shovel Ready Scheme in Aug 2020 to help us with flood protection. Yeah.
3) So he says levelling isn't about money & a few para later he's telling us that spending is going to be tighter --- which he writes in a way that says "well obviously?!" He is writing a piece that is essentially pro cutting, instead of really funding the people of "The North"
4) "People were more concerned with the feeling of being left behind"
That's because THEY HAVE BEEN.
Feeling like you're left behind & not having investment are linked. Getting investment helps with equity. It's not the only solution but not having investment makes equity harder.
That's because THEY HAVE BEEN.
Feeling like you're left behind & not having investment are linked. Getting investment helps with equity. It's not the only solution but not having investment makes equity harder.
4.1) Back to 11 years of Tory rule.
These are the things they have done to cause underinvestment (left behindness) in our communities:
+1000 SureStart centres closed
+780 libraries closed
+700 football pitches closed
+25-30% cuts to all govt departs
+25-30% cuts to all councils*
These are the things they have done to cause underinvestment (left behindness) in our communities:
+1000 SureStart centres closed
+780 libraries closed
+700 football pitches closed
+25-30% cuts to all govt departs
+25-30% cuts to all councils*
4.1) continued
+ 21,000 fewer frontline police*
+ 10,000 fewer firefighters
+ 40,000+ healthcare prof shortages*
+ almost half of workers are in insecure work*
+ 40% of working households just one crisis away from destitution*
+ teenage suicide up by 70%*
*exasperated by covid
+ 21,000 fewer frontline police*
+ 10,000 fewer firefighters
+ 40,000+ healthcare prof shortages*
+ almost half of workers are in insecure work*
+ 40% of working households just one crisis away from destitution*
+ teenage suicide up by 70%*
*exasperated by covid
5) I can literally go on & on.
You can believe until you go blue in the face - BUT PEOPLE NEED REAL STABILITY & INVESTMENT, NICK.
This is what your 11 years of Tory Government have created. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH!
Look at the massive reduction in education spending!
You can believe until you go blue in the face - BUT PEOPLE NEED REAL STABILITY & INVESTMENT, NICK.
This is what your 11 years of Tory Government have created. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH!
Look at the massive reduction in education spending!
6) "Short-sighted ‘New Labour’ ...did not have the imagination".
Lies.
What did shortsighted Labour do?
+ EMA
+ Got 1000s of 1st gen uni students (including me!)
+ Opened SureStart centres where the long term data shows how GREAT they are for our communities.
+ Increased NHS
Lies.
What did shortsighted Labour do?
+ EMA
+ Got 1000s of 1st gen uni students (including me!)
+ Opened SureStart centres where the long term data shows how GREAT they are for our communities.
+ Increased NHS
6.1) AND SO MUCH MORE BUT LOTS OF THESE THINGS DON'T EXIST ANYMORE BECAUSE.... YOU GUESSED IT .... THEY WERE CUT BY THE TORIES.
You can't say there was no investment or imagination when you stomp all over it & make it disappear.
I also think we could have been MORE imaginative
You can't say there was no investment or imagination when you stomp all over it & make it disappear.
I also think we could have been MORE imaginative
7) "politicians convinced their electorates that Conservative governments didn’t care"
TORIES LITERALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT NORMAL WORKING & VULNERABLE PEOPLE. See all above for evidence. Those actions aren't of people who care.
They had to be shamed to fund school dinners.
TORIES LITERALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT NORMAL WORKING & VULNERABLE PEOPLE. See all above for evidence. Those actions aren't of people who care.
They had to be shamed to fund school dinners.
8) This bit I REALLY RESENT:
"What happened was the emergence of a culture of dependency."
I don't need to say anything about this because it reveals everything you need to know about the Tories.
This is not the thoughts of someone who "cares".
"What happened was the emergence of a culture of dependency."
I don't need to say anything about this because it reveals everything you need to know about the Tories.
This is not the thoughts of someone who "cares".
9) "the North has consistently been told that it is deprived."
Mate, that's because IT IS.
The north has the most areas that are classed as "deprived".
These are facts.
It means there are very complex issues that need time, imagination & £ to help.
Mate, that's because IT IS.
The north has the most areas that are classed as "deprived".
These are facts.
It means there are very complex issues that need time, imagination & £ to help.
9.1) NOT saying this fact doesn't make it disappear/change the situations?
Saying that we have a state of deprivation isn't a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Undervaluing, never-delivering, slashing funding/services, not listening to the needs of people in deprivation IS....
Saying that we have a state of deprivation isn't a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Undervaluing, never-delivering, slashing funding/services, not listening to the needs of people in deprivation IS....
9.1) continued.
Did you know that in some of these areas of deprivation, people live 25 years less than those in richer areas?
We NEED to acknowledge this.
It's a bit like being a goldfish in a tiny tank. You can grow massive, but the space means it makes it harder to do so.
Did you know that in some of these areas of deprivation, people live 25 years less than those in richer areas?
We NEED to acknowledge this.
It's a bit like being a goldfish in a tiny tank. You can grow massive, but the space means it makes it harder to do so.
10) "politicians shouted/promoted the politics of envy+ resentment."
Not true. What other parties (not just Labour) & citizens want is a politics of FAIRNESS, of justice, of thriving not just surviving. We need to stop making the poor pay for the rich, which is what's happening.
Not true. What other parties (not just Labour) & citizens want is a politics of FAIRNESS, of justice, of thriving not just surviving. We need to stop making the poor pay for the rich, which is what's happening.
11)
GASLIGHTING ALERT QUOTE
"sad reality is that the left ripped out the industrious spirit of the North"
ARE YOU FKING KIDDING ME, NICK? ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Forgetting modern historical events, we have where we have 11 years of Tories not helping industry locally
GASLIGHTING ALERT QUOTE"sad reality is that the left ripped out the industrious spirit of the North"
ARE YOU FKING KIDDING ME, NICK? ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Forgetting modern historical events, we have where we have 11 years of Tories not helping industry locally
12) He casually references Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre next.
Fun facts:
+ it's part of Sheffield Uni (uni gets underfunded currently)
+ Networked with big industries (which Brexit is harming)
+ it was began in 2001 under... *checks notes* LABOUR?
Fun facts:
+ it's part of Sheffield Uni (uni gets underfunded currently)
+ Networked with big industries (which Brexit is harming)
+ it was began in 2001 under... *checks notes* LABOUR?
13) He finishes with:
"what is levelling up? It’s an awakening of the North’s people... a renewed ‘can do’ attitude"
Don't be so patronizing.
The "people of the north" don't have to wait for a Tory politician to come & "inspire them" - No.
We're READY NOW. WE HAVE IDEAS NOW
"what is levelling up? It’s an awakening of the North’s people... a renewed ‘can do’ attitude"
Don't be so patronizing.
The "people of the north" don't have to wait for a Tory politician to come & "inspire them" - No.
We're READY NOW. WE HAVE IDEAS NOW
14)
I feel resentful of most of what he's written because yes, we are suffering & yes our communities & it's services are endlessly getting cut by funding reduction from national gov.
BUT we're not just sat waiting around. We have amazing institutions & schools & communities.
I feel resentful of most of what he's written because yes, we are suffering & yes our communities & it's services are endlessly getting cut by funding reduction from national gov.
BUT we're not just sat waiting around. We have amazing institutions & schools & communities.
14.1) WE GENUINELY CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND WHERE WE LIVE.
But NOT having the funding OR understanding makes it hard for these things to flourish. How are kids to exceed into their future without materials? What about social care? What about youth centres?
But NOT having the funding OR understanding makes it hard for these things to flourish. How are kids to exceed into their future without materials? What about social care? What about youth centres?
14.2) ATM we're like the plants that grow out of the concrete. BUT we deserve a fruitful, sustainable plot - which allows us to flourish & grow - in whatever direction.
but our industry is not just engineering. It's arts & culture, it's sports, it's healthcare, it's education.
but our industry is not just engineering. It's arts & culture, it's sports, it's healthcare, it's education.
14.3)
That's why the Tories are NOT the answer.
The answer isn't 11 years of Tory Policy cutting the very threads that hold us together, that catch us when we fall, that support us *so* that we can dream & reach the sky.
That's why the Tories are NOT the answer.
The answer isn't 11 years of Tory Policy cutting the very threads that hold us together, that catch us when we fall, that support us *so* that we can dream & reach the sky.
14.4)
The people of the north are resilient, super smart, extremely hardworking. They're not embedded in a culture of dependency, they already have great ideas & are doing great stuff, we look out for our people- IN SPITE of the extra hardships.
So that's why this article sucks
The people of the north are resilient, super smart, extremely hardworking. They're not embedded in a culture of dependency, they already have great ideas & are doing great stuff, we look out for our people- IN SPITE of the extra hardships.
So that's why this article sucks
What an ending LOL.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
I am a Labour candidate, but I wrote this firstly as a working class Donx girl. having seen & working firsthand with the effects of hardship & ruin these cuts have on our industries & services. Not least within healthcare.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
I am a Labour candidate, but I wrote this firstly as a working class Donx girl. having seen & working firsthand with the effects of hardship & ruin these cuts have on our industries & services. Not least within healthcare.
