Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.
Should backtracking MP’s get sacked?
Responding to the Shattered Britain report into a lack of trust in MPs, Asher Najmi (MetroTalk, Wed) says it is our own fault because we vote for them and ‘make them our politicians’.
I disagree. Politicians are constantly lying and guilty of telling their constituents what they want to hear in order to get votes, but quickly backtrack on policies that got them elected as soon as they’re in office.
How are we supposed to elect fair representatives when they are frequently dishonest about their policies and lack the integrity to put promised plans into action once they hold the position?
Personally, I think that if you backtrack on any promises or policies that were part of your election campaign, you should be immediately stripped of being an MP and banned from running again.
The lies need to stop and anyone found to be untrustworthy should not be able to hold a position of power and have any say in governing our nation. Marc, Newcastle
Is ‘not bothering’ the answer?
In response to Asher – we are told it is our fault if we don’t vote but you say it is our fault if we do vote. We can only vote for who there is to vote for. I think I’ll stick to not bothering. John, Orpington.
Reader predicts when democracy will ‘truly die’
Four Labour MPs have been suspended and three more stripped of their trade envoy roles (Metro, Thu) because their voting reflected the needs of their constituents rather than toeing the party line.
The seven had repeatedly voted against the government over its welfare reforms and cuts to winter fuel allowance.
When the party becomes more important than the electorate, as in countries such as Russia, China and North Korea, then democracy has truly died in the United Kingdom. Brian, Dartford
A new parallel government?
There is no doubt our government is failing. It’s failing to deal with a deadly climate collapse, it’s failing to treat the epidemic of mental illness and it’s failing to give its citizens a voice.
In other words, it’s failing to protect us, serve us or represent us. The politicians who have climbed to the top of this broken system are not going to fix it after it has served them so well.
So we have to come up with an alternative ourselves – a parallel government that is truly representative, made by the people, for the people.
A campaign group called Assemble is running a House Of The People from this Sunday to Tuesday. It will be made up of 100 ordinary citizens – 50 nominated by the public as highly regarded members of the community, and 50 selected by lottery (the same way we pick juries).
They will meet in London (exact location tbc) to consider and discuss proposals from similar local community assemblies that have been held across the UK.
By the end, we will have an alternative plan for how to run this country, created by a truly representative mix of all of us, rather than the distant, self-serving Westminster bubble.
It will cater to our needs, contain our ideas and show the world what we really want our government to be.
All members of the public are welcome to see the House Of The People in action – look up ‘Assemble House Of The People’ for more details. Charlie Parrett, Stoke
Spend on infrastructure, not on subsidising the rich, says reader
I agree with Molly Neville (MetroTalk, Thu) when she says that £650million of new government grants of up to £3,750 for people to buy electric cars will separate the haves and the have-nots.
Huge numbers of working people cannot afford houses with driveways (myself included) and therefore it is not practical to own an electric car as it cannot be charged overnight.
This money would be better spent on infrastructure, such as localised charging stations, rather than subsidising the cars of the wealthy. George, Hertfordshire
Is sharing always caring?
It would appear ‘Your caring, sharing Co-op’ (yes, I’m old enough to remember the advert) shared a lot more than most of us wanted.
It has confirmed that all 6.5million members had their data stolen in a cyber attack this year (Metro, Thu).
I’ve had the same mobile number for 22 years – now I receive scam calls where I’m addressed by my full name. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Not good. Paul D, Torquay
Chill your reds!
Thanks to Rob Buckhaven for his feature on why some red wine is better served chilled (Metro, Wed). The same misconception applies to British beer. Cellar temperature, not room temperature! Terry McCranor, Rugby
‘T1D isn’t something I want to have to explain’, reader praises Mattel for new Barbie
I would like to thank Eleanor Noyce for writing about her source of joy at Mattel’s new type 1 diabetic Barbie, which comes with a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) and an insulin pump (Metro, Wed).
Like Eleanor, I’m also T1D (I don’t want to say how long, as it makes me sound old).
I remember being trained to inject into oranges so I could understand how to draw and mix my insulin.
Fast forward many years and for the past eight I have been on a CGM and an Omnipod insulin pump.
When pregnant, people would say I was hurting my child if I injected my stomach in public. I have also had strangers ask when is ‘that’ – pointing at my CGM or pump – coming off. I try to explain but sometimes it’s not something I want to have to explain.
So, thank you to Mattel and Eleanor for sharing the great news of the T1D Barbie.
I hope more companies think about other hidden illnesses so people don’t need to feel concerned about wearing their vest top with a pump on their arm. Amirah Coley, via email
