Advertisement
Opinion

Three crucial ways the government is failing us

A reader writes that the government is complacent, out of touch and out of ideas

One of the worrying things about our government is its lack of vision. It doesn’t take three issues in particular nearly seriously enough. It is to be hoped opposition parties show ways to deal with these issues to generate some hope for the future before the current drain of young talent from this country turns into a flood.

1 More and more young people in professions such as medicine are considering leaving this country. Who can blame them? Paying off student loans, with unrealistic government pay and with unaffordable housing and ever increasing pressures at work, why stay if you are undervalued? Billions wasted on the ineffective NHS Test and Trace and other ventures, but no money for junior doctors or nurses. No vision for the future from a completely out-of-touch government.

2 It is far too easy for some wealthy individuals, families, estates and firms to hide their wealth in tax havens and to obtain tax breaks via clever accountants while the rest of the population get squeezed. No vision for the future from a completely out-of-touch government.

3 Most importantly, many environmental issues are a national disgrace. Rivers and beaches polluted by lightly regulated privatised water companies and shambolic, unreliable privatised rail “services”. The lack of reliable, fast, easily accessible electrical charging points means millions will be forced to drive around in polluting vehicles for decades to come unless some real urgency is shown by a complacent government. No realistic vision from a completely out-of-touch government, but is that really surprising with recent governments dominated by ex-Oxford University, public school types who are debate trained but with virtually no experience of how most UK citizens live? Nowhere else in developed Europe currently has a governing elite raised largely in isolation from everyone else.

Tony Rowe, Sudbury, Suffolk

Do you have lived experience or burning opinions to share about this story? We want to hear from you. And we want to share your views with more people. Get in touch and tell us more.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Never miss an issue

Take advantage of our special New Year subscription offer. Subscribe from just £9.99 and never miss an issue.

Recommended for you

Read All
I'm made to feel like a burden for claiming benefits from the DWP. It's not a way of life – it's torture
Karen

I'm made to feel like a burden for claiming benefits from the DWP. It's not a way of life – it's torture

The care system fails millions of disabled people – we can't wait till 2028 for the government to act
a disability rights poster
Mikey Erhardt

The care system fails millions of disabled people – we can't wait till 2028 for the government to act

We can't expect Ed Sheeran, Marcus Rashford and Jamie Oliver to keep on fixing Britain
Paul McNamee

We can't expect Ed Sheeran, Marcus Rashford and Jamie Oliver to keep on fixing Britain

Wages outside of London and South East are worse now than in 2008 – can Labour turn things around?
Andrew Carter

Wages outside of London and South East are worse now than in 2008 – can Labour turn things around?

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue