Back to work? Some of us have more important things to do

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The ‘delusional’ work and pensions secretary Mel Stride (PA)

The work and pensions secretary Mel Stride appears to be completely delusional in thinking that 650,000 are willing to rush back into work to facilitate a 2p tax cut. Has he never heard anyone who has “retired” say that they are so busy now that they don’t know how they found time to go to work in the first place?

Let me tell him one of the biggest reasons for that is because we stepped into unpaid childminding jobs for our grandchildren, with nursery fees being extortionately high for most parents. We facilitate young people to work much longer days than most nursery schools cater for. My daughter in law has to be at her desk by 7:30am, meaning she’s on the train by 6:30. My son is often abroad on business. A nursery doesn’t help in this situation, but no doubt some of those “over 55s” grandparents do.

Concentrate on proper training for young people to get them decent jobs which helps the economy. Allow the disgustingly labelled “illegal immigrants” some form of the US yellow card system to enable them to work until their cases are properly heard by the Home Office.