After the Diane Abbott racism row, Sunak needs to consider his next move carefully

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

By accepting Frank Hester’s money and being so slow off the mark to criticise him, Rishi Sunak needs to consider his next move carefully (AFP via Getty Images)

Rishi Sunak has finally admitted the words said by Frank Hester were indeed racist and sexist, after pressure from the public and possibly his own MPs. He may also have been motivated to do so by Michael Gove’s approaching redefinition of extremism. Sunak needs to consider his next move carefully. By accepting Hester’s money and being so slow off the mark to criticise him, the Tory party may appear to be endorsing him by association.

The move by Gove to redefine extremism and ban a list of protest groups which the government deems to be a “danger to democracy” may be a destructive move indeed.

Alan Pack

Kent

The government needs to step up on social care

For those of us working in the social care sector, the gloomy picture painted both by the King’s Fund and the Unfair to Care reports which have been published recently is, unfortunately, not surprising. For years, we have been highlighting the need for long-term planning and investment in the sector, but time and again this call has been ignored.

The 2022/23 figures show there are between 14,000 and 22,000 people with learning disabilities who need but are not receiving support. The social care workforce vacancy rate is at its second highest-ever level, despite the arrival of nearly 70,000 overseas workers. Delays can no longer be accepted, and we must act now to ensure that systemic shortages in workforce levels do not continue this current downward trajectory.

We are once again calling on the government to benchmark and fund minimum care worker pay at NHS band 3, a wage aligned with their skills and responsibilities. As the Unfair to Care report finds, the average social care worker would take home £7,617 more per year if they delivered a role with comparable responsibilities in the NHS.

Both those who receive care and those who work on the frontline of providing it deserve to have their needs prioritised and it’s imperative that the government steps up and recognises this.

Rachael Dodgson

Chief executive of Dimensions

Biden is cheating the American people

I would like to make it clear that I am no fan of either president Joe Biden or Donald Trump. 

But I was disappointed to see Biden using the State of the Union to bash his predecessor and current opponent. It was an insult to the American people and a violation of his constitutional obligations.

The Congressional ethics code clearly states that government funds and events should not be used to help incumbents gain re-election and according to the White House executive branch, the president is responsible for enforcing those Congressional laws.

In my opinion, he cheated the American people by failing to give a full report and instead used the address as free airtime to politicise his candidacy. As a Pennsylvania state senator and Supreme Court Justice were tried and convicted for similar violations, why should he not also stand the test?

Matt Drozd

Address Supplied

Be careful what you wish for

Recently I’ve seen a lot of discussion surrounding euthanasia. However, I can’t help but feel uncomfortable at the idea of profit-making organisations getting involved should we legalise assisted dying in the UK.

While they may offer a well-managed service and promise a pain-free, stress-free passing, at what price would it be? How can we be sure that they can be trusted without oversight? Moreover, could we expect the NHS to provide assisted dying for patients given the pressure it is already under? While it may be a good idea, in reality, we should be careful what we wish for.

Simon Fisher

Sellindge

Enough is enough!

l have to complain in the strongest possible terms at the way the Princess of Wales has been so severely criticised for the retouching of her own photograph.

What on earth has it got to do with anyone what she does with her own property? That she should receive all this horrendous criticism when all she has ever done is represent the royal family in the most professional manner, having never been in this position before...

Wouldn’t one think that all members of The Firm hardly dare blow their nose in public in case a member of the public might complain about the design on the handkerchief they pull from their pocket? I do think that things have gone far and away beyond a joke. Please can we just leave the family alone? They have been through ghastly worries and losses over the past few years and enough is enough!

Kiloran Murrell

Address Supplied