Men who barge into strangers are nothing new to York people
RE: The Press article about the craze by some individuals of barging into unsuspecting pedestrians and without a second glance or apologies simply walk on.
In Japan it's called "Butsukari otoko" (bumping men).
There used to be one individual in York who used to regularly bump into people.
On approaching myself, and knowing of his antics, I braced myself and he bounced off my shoulder and never attempted that trick again.
By far the biggest incidences of people walking into you is because they are on their mobiles, and not paying attention to things around them and distracted by their phones.
People who don't watch where they're going see nothing – in the land of the blind, the man with one eye (open) is King.
D M Deamer,
Penleys Grove Street,
Monkgate,
York
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I remember the 1970s that Burnham wants to go back to
Many, many, many years ago we got an increase in personal allowances every year from the Government so we could earn more from our annual wage increase from our kind employers which meant we kept up with the increase of food, petrol, etc, so each year we felt a little bit better off financially.
Which meant people were able to continue paying their mortgages and other necessities. Then Labour came into power and took away personal allowances and there were strikes up and down the country and inflation rose into double figures which caused interest rates to rise and people lost their houses.
This was the 70s that Andy Burnham is so keen to go back to.
Ann Cruickshank,
The Mortons,
Laund Road,
Huddersfield
Serious issues require serious consideration
KEVIN Hollinrake may have been the victim of mis-reporting or misunderstanding in your June 24 report “‘Fund warfare not welfare’ says North Yorkshire MP.”
The report says that in Thirsk & Malton two per cent of people aged 16-64 are claiming unemployment benefits and Mr Hollinrake believes this is ‘unsustainable’.
Cursory internet research reveals a consensus among economists that a healthy economy needs an unemployment rate of between 3.5 and 5 per cent. It is important that the benefits system does not trap people in worklessness. Access to good training and job opportunities is essential, and Government funded support is assisting people into work.
People seeking work in Thirsk & Malton have to overcome barriers, including transport. Even in the larger towns bus services are poor and a car is essential for people living in villages or hamlets. Reducing unemployment benefits won’t help anyone to find a job.
Personal Independence Payments (PIP) help with the extra living costs of a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.
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Some 3,848 people of working age in Thirsk & Malton currently get PIP. There is much concern about the rapid rise since Covid in the number of people receiving this benefit.
Currently 12 eminent people with extensive experience of disability issues, including lived experience, are working with Labour Minister Stephen Tims and his two co-chairs on an in-depth review of PIPs.
Their work is available on-line and easily found by putting ‘Tims Review’ into a search engine. Alan Milburn recently published an interim report on young people not in education, employment and training. The work was commissioned by the Labour Government and is also readily available on-line.
Serious issues require serious consideration and that is what the Labour Government now has underway.
Caroline O'Neill,
Chair Thirsk & Malton Labour Party,
Albro House,
Oswaldkirk,
Helmsley
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