Ex-Prime Minister Theresa May photo Policy Exchange/Creative Commons

Ex-Prime Minister Theresa May photo Policy Exchange/Creative Commons   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Who says workers aren’t appreciated?

In these days of deskilling and constant attacks on workers’ pay and conditions, it came as an unusual surprise when our shift supervisor informed us that management would like to thank us for our efforts in hitting the monthly budget for the first time ever (production is still in its early stages).

So much so, the same production manager would like to buy us all a fish and chips meal on Friday. Lovely to be appreciated for the hard work we were all putting in. However, when the production manager saw the cost of his generosity he said: “Too expensive, tell them they can have a bag of chips!” He eventually agreed to a breakfast and drink from the works canteen. Very nice, and appreciated, eventually.

Gateshead factory worker

Proud sponsors

More and more adverts talk about companies being ‘proud sponsors’ of this, and ‘proud supporters’ of that. Pride is first and foremost of the seven deadly sins. It is the sin of Satan.

The full list is: pride, sloth, gluttony, pretending you know what ‘woke’ means, going to Eton, avarice and capitalism.

Or am I describing the Prime Minister?

Derek McMillan, West Sussex

Healthcare on the brink

Waiting for healthcare is a throw of the dice. The health system is on the brink of collapse, just what the Tories want. I was at my surgery, talking through a window, and got told: “No appointments this way”. So I called on the phone and: “No appointments this way, call at 9am”. Did that and was told: “No doctors, call tomorrow at 8.30am or use online”, that didn’t work either. People have got much worse examples, so if we don’t fight now, guess what is going to happen?

Mike Marx, Southampton

Money May buy you love

I worked at a wedding in leafy Buckinghamshire at the end of June. The venue itself was tightly packed, and there were another 60 guests watching online next door. A total of 200 or so.

We wondered how on earth they could have so many guests in that space! The cap on guest numbers had only just been lifted that week, and there are still strict limits on social distancing.

There were absolutely huge floral displays. The whole venue smelled beautiful.

We were outside watching everyone arrive. The guests were beautifully and extravagantly dressed. Obviously a very moneyed crowd.

I noticed a very large bald man in a suit with a discreet earphone, then saw two more similarly dressed. Wondered who on earth the security detail was for!

A slim, tall woman walked by wearing a gorgeous dress and a large hat, accompanied by her husband, security detail hovering around her.

I suddenly understood how the obviously extremely wealthy couple were able to swing all this. It was Theresa May.

Anonymous, Buckinghamshire