Letters: I feel very alone as a working-class liberal

In the polarising world of modern British politics, a working-class Big Issue reader feels outnumbered by his Reform-supporting peers.

Not all working-class people want Reform

John Bird’s summing up of the current situation in his piece, ‘The radicalising effect of government inaction’, superbly told of the tension that feels all around at the moment. I am from a working-class background and feel very alone among family and friends with my liberal viewpoint. If the government doesn’t get a grip on things very quickly, I fear we will end up with a Reform government. 

Brian Lee

White flag

There are a number of people in my Norfolk village who have flagpoles, all ex-servicemen and who normally fly a Union or St George’s Day flag. On Norfolk Day they fly the county flag, and many fly the ensign of their service also. They don’t fly them now. They are good, decent people who were prepared to write this nation a blank cheque with their lives. But they don’t want to scare or intimidate people, they just want to live in peace. So until this flag-shagging nonsense dies a death the ensigns will stay down.

@Neilhayz, Instagram

Ready or not

Humanity loves convenience, be it food you don’t need to cook, supermarkets that frankly do it for you, text speech, wireless connections and now we have driverless cars. Pay attention, as next up, AI will do the thinking part for us. Be ready for the future where 96% of everything is well out of our control. Be ready soon. 

Phill Gee, Facebook

Donkey work

Animal Interfaith Alliance is an international alliance of faith groups founded in Britain, concerned about
the welfare of animals. Our member organisations and individual members include Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs. We would like to compliment you on your articles about Safe Haven for Donkeys, an excellent organisation our members support. 

Dr Saif Alden, a vet funded by Safe Haven, does all he can in terrible circumstances to help the donkeys who are indispensable to the persecuted people of Gaza. Like them, the donkeys who labour to transport people forced to evacuate are starving. We do hope your readers can find it in them to support Safe Haven for Donkeys – it is even more obvious now that, without enough food and medicines coming into Gaza, these animals will die, leaving their owners in even more dire straits. They are a lifeline to humanity, so, as Dr Alden says, “We must protect this sacred creature.” We would like to convey our grateful thanks to him.

Marian Hussenbux, campaigns secretary, Animal Interfaith Alliance

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Full moon rising in the Pennines, by Stuart Goodman, Facebook

When are you putting your heating on?

I always dread winter coming and always hope it’s not going to be a bad one. I have a fixed tariff so hopefully my cost will not rise. I have kept my direct payment the same over the summer months so I could build up some credit. 

I have built some credit up so if it does go cold sooner than expected I will be able to put the heat on without the worry. I haven’t had it on yet, but when I do it’s on for an hour in the morning and an hour or two in the evenings. When it’s not on, it’s a hot water bottle and a blanket.

Sue Calcott, Facebook

I am a pensioner and I live in a bungalow. I cope with my bills. No private pension, and because I am 76 I have the lower rate of pension. I also have rheumatoid and osteoarthritis arthritis. I rely on an electric blanket and hot water bottles, plus I keep active to keep muscles going and walk my collie every day. The ones I feel for are my grandchildren. They really struggle, even though they’re working. 

I batch cook to save energy and grow some food in raised beds. We can do a lot to help ourselves and not rely on extra benefits.

Pauline Baker, Facebook

Read more:

• Why does everyone keep getting the white working class wrong?
• Building back better? Not for the working class
• Sam Fender: Culture wars undermine working class support for Labour

There’s no trust left in the world. How can we get it back?

Better leaders who aren’t corrupt and greedy, more compassion to each other and other living creatures, good manners and giving way to others. 

Julie Nixon, Facebook

Everyday kindness.

Jay Henderson, Facebook

Honest and trustworthy leadership might work.

Liz Dane, Facebook

Facts are important in a world where “alternative facts” seem to be order of the day.

Stephen Michael, Facebook

We need more people to start behaving in trustworthy ways. And that starts with ourselves and ends with us collectively expecting it from those in power and holding powerful people and organisations to account when they are not trustworthy.

Charlie Seaborn, Facebook

REVOLUTION. 

Gordon Craig, Facebook

Aliens! That’ll fck up every religion and maybe bring humanity together. 

Tim Carson, Facebook

Stop lying? Protecting citizens first?

@magnuskallas1972, Instagram

Stop attending hate marches.

Lawrence Burt Barlow, Facebook

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