Given that further swingeing cuts to local authorities are expected in the spending review following the 40% they have already faced since 2010, it is not surprising that the chairman of the Local Government Association is focusing on the long-term costs to local authorities of bringing refugees to Britain. (“Geldof’s promises of shelter are ‘pie in the sky’”, News).
However, the LGA Tory chief doesn’t question why, after five years of government led by his party, there is still lack of capacity in school places, lengthy waiting lists for housing, (which will be made worse by the government’s policy of selling off social housing) and insufficient GPs being trained to cope now, without seven-day-a-week working.
Austerity has shrunk public service provision. Aside from supposedly reducing the deficit, it has been implicitly sold as hard-working taxpayers being able to retain more of their income, which makes people focus on their own needs and become progressively less compassionate to the plight of others. The result is the ludicrous argument that because the government has penalised the vulnerable in Britain, we can’t accept desperate people fleeing from war-torn countries.
JD Budden
Exmouth
Devon
There appears to be a serious disconnect between public statements and meaningful actions by many Persian Gulf states to mitigate the migrant crisis. The talk has all but morphed into a few tiny steps. The Gulf states have some of the highest per capita incomes in the world. Yet as millions of refugees risk life and limb to reach save havens, Gulf nations have grudgingly agreed to offer sanctuary to an insignificant few.
After the Syrian toddler’s tragic death galvanised Europe, most notably Germany, humanitarian groups have accused Arab nations of inaction. To make matters worse, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have exacerbated the crisis by bankrolling shadowy groups in Syria and supporting the demonic group Isis, which continues to commit unspeakable atrocities in the name of Islam without invoking even a whimper of outrage from mainstream Muslims. One of the most vehement critics of the Gulf states is Sarah Whitson, executive director of Human Rights Watch, who stated: “Burden sharing has no meaning in the Gulf, and the Saudi, Emirati and Qatari approach has been to sign a cheque and let everyone else deal with it.”
Tejinder Uberoi
Los Altos
California
Let pupils help run schools
It is quite clear that the electronic age and its influences have not been recognised in teacher training (“Wave of school sex abuse by pupils reported”, News). The serious problem of sexual offences and bullying that affects many of our schools can only be dealt with effectively with the co-operation of the pupils.
Schools must introduce social structures that will allow pupils to become junior partners working with staff in creating a satisfactory, safe learning environment.
It is time for government action to introduce suitable legislation.
Teddy Gold
Founder, School Councils UK
London N3
Now who’s being sexist?
In your article about the forthcoming staging of Photograph 51, in which Nicole Kidman portrays my aunt, Rosalind Franklin, you inform us that the play exposes the sexist conditions for women in science at King’s College during the 1950s, (Nicole Kidman returns to stage as sidelined DNA scientist, News
I think it is true that Rosalind’s working environment, where she was not allowed in the common room, did not promote proper academic collaboration and isolated her. But why, in such a discussion of the tough times for female scientists, do you give a sexist account? Why do you repeat the mantra that Rosalind was a “difficult woman”? Were the men, Crick and Watson, easy to get on with? Why have they not been subjected to such a personal critique?
It is interesting to note that Rosalind became friendly, personally and academically, with Crick and Watson before she died at such a young age.
Shirley Franklin
Brockenhurst
Hampshire
Student co-ops big in Canada
I was reminded by your article “Student co-ops throwing open doors to counter sky-high rental costs” (Business) of 1968-69, when I lived in a student housing co-operative while a graduate student in Canada.
This co-operative, which now has more than 700 student members, is just celebrating its 50th anniversary. It had a number of housing options. I had a room in a large, 100-year-old house (historic by Canadian standards) that was temporarily leased to the co-operative by the city council, which intended unfortunately to demolish it to make way for a bypass.
However, the majority of accommodation was in low-rise, purpose-built housing for single students, with a canteen available for those who wished to use it, as well as self-contained flats for married students, a few minutes’ walk from the main campus.
Maybe the National Union of Students could learn from the experience of such long-established student housing co-ops.
Victor Gallant
Newcastle upon Tyne
