King's Lynn News letters – Liz Truss vs Rishi Sunak Conservative leadership PM battle and Lynnsport trees are subject matters

Why should it take so long? After all it’s only their own Tory leader who’ll become the PM they’re electing; it’s not a General Election albeit the blanket media coverage this distracting contest is attracting, continually probing the public with docile questions like “who would you prefer to be the next Tory prime minister etc’, anyone might think that it was?

There’s no such thing as a ‘left or right Tory’ and having defended the same corroded neoliberal policies for years which are now well manifested by the likes of the cost-of-living crisis and stagflation etc, all the candidates from the outset were just singing off the same neoliberal hymn sheet in various guises and nuances to appear distinct from each other.

The wider question however should be why are so many voters of whatever persuasion so easily seduced to believe a candidate’s personality, appearance and past life experiences whether it be a former Army officer in Afghanistan or an affluent hedge funder will somehow determine or influence what they actually decide to do and say if they’re ever elected to power? It’s the economic and political issues at the time which will influence and indeed lead them and eventually topple them like it did Johnson not their personalities or behavioural or mendacious shenanigans. A true democracy is where an electorate should vote cerebrally on global and domestic issues, not personalities or over populist nationalistic sentiments, which of course Brexit was.

Nick Vinehill,

Snettisham

Truss will be for the rich

When will MP’s ever get to grips on what gains the average voter’s cross in a General Election.

They seem to think that they gain their positions on their own merit but, sorry to disappoint, the floating voter that propels a party in to power tends to vote for who they want or don’t want as their Prime Minister.

Hence at the last election Johnson commanded a huge majority for the Tories because most traditional Labour voters didn’t want Corbyn.

The choice of the two B-listed candidates that Tory MP’s have identified as the future leader of our country is beyond a joke and I’m sure the sound of champagne corks popping in Labour headquarters throughout the country will be deafening.

Tory grandees manipulated the right-wing Truss being chosen over their only hope of regaining power in the shape of Ms Mordaunt, who has a more commanding personality than the other two put together and whom Labour feared the most.

With her economical views being to the right of centre but her social responsibility views to the left, she seems to have grasped the mood of the general public, as well as having no ties to the lies and deceit that identifies the Johnson administration.

I for one will be looking forward to the outcome at the next General Election and pray that the average person doesn’t suffer too much in the next two years because, be in no doubt, with the fantasy economics of Truss tax cuts, they will benefit the rich at the expense of services to those who need them the most.

Ed Brownbill

Pott Row

Cynical about them all

I’m not watching the debate on TV by senior MPs all vying for the post of Prime Minister. Reading the reviews it seems much of the debating consists of slagging each other off.

Ego inflated, well educated men and women all tearing into each other about their personal lives rather than telling the electorate why they should be the new leader of the Conservative party.

The usual wild mandates and promises are being made which will turn into the regular U-turns once he or she is in No.10.

The political back-stabbing of Boris Johnson by Rishi Sunak can be compared to Julius Caesar being stabbed by his friend Brutus “Et tu, Brute” as he fell dying, the only loyalty politicians have is to themselves. In all honesty, why should we believe any of what comes out of their mouths regarding the future running of the United Kingdom, we’ve heard it all before, the same old mantra from one senior MP after another and sounding like a stuck record on the turn table where the same line is repeated over and over ad infinitum.

The UK and the USA are in political turmoil, Russia is spouting the same propaganda as it did in the days of the Soviet Union, China watches quietly from the wings. Somewhere, some day, something has got to give unless world leaders come to their senses (fat chance) and start singing from the same hymn sheet and I’m not talking about climate change.

Thirty-three years ago the Berlin Wall came down followed by the collapse of the Soviet Union and we have learnt nothing, now being in the grip of a Second Cold War.

The blame for this can be put firmly on the shoulders of western politicians who couldn’t wait to reduce their countries armed forces, giving Russia it’s chance to plan for future military operations which has culminated in it’s invasion of the Ukraine.

Now western governments are in panic mode and have sent or are planning to send under the banner of NATO thousands of extra military personnel and weaponry to the NATO countries of the Baltic States as a warning to Russia.

This will not cost peanuts, but isn’t it wonderful how Russia’s invasion has concentrated political minds who are now saying that their defence budgets will be increased.

If I hear just one member of Parliament saying those famous words “Lessons have been learnt” I’ll lose the remaining little faith I still have in British politics.

Russia’s president has been muttering on and off about nuclear retaliation if NATO should step over the line. Once again the world is faced with nuclear Armageddon if some political lunatic in high office decides to go the full Monty.

The old saying comes to mind “Those the Gods wish to destroy, they first make insane” how true that saying is in these early years of the 21st century.

I am very cynical about anything to do with politics in the UK, Boris Johnson’s stupidity and lies helped to destroy him as Prime Minister, but he won the Tories a huge majority in the last election, got us through Brexit and has supported the Ukraine 100 per cent in its war with Russia. His reward, to be stabbed in the back by his own Chancellor probably supported by that other turncoat, Michael Gove.

It will be interesting to see what happens after September 5, both in domestic politics and world politics when the new PM takes over No10.

However, I feel that a squadron of pigs might become airborne again.

Alan Mudge,

Pentney

PLANTING

120 trees stay alive in garden

I was interested in Jenny Walker’s letter regarding the planting of 6,000 young trees at Lynnsport and 500 at King’s Reach.

I have over 50 years of experience in this field, having carried out such schemes many times over the years.

In my experience, if good quality plants are obtained and a good maintenance programme carried out after planting, there is no reason why plants should die.

The maintenance contract always includes a watering schedule should conditions require and if this is carried out properly, the plants will thrive. I am now retired but as an example, I have recently planted approximately 120 young native trees and shrubs in my garden and with proper maintenance, I have enjoyed 100 per cent take. Diligent maintenance in the first year or two is absolutely key to success and I question whether this has been carried out. I would have thought that £27,000 per year for maintenance (If that is what the council are being charged) should be ample!

Tim Porter,

Market Lane,

Walpole St Andrew