‘Where do Labour expect bricks to come from – Legoland?’

HOW does Labour expect to see one and a half million new homes built in five years when government policies are crushing firms expected to carry out this mammoth task?

Having witnessed the majority of small and medium local builders cease trading over the last two decades we now see other essential companies in trouble.

Things have become worse since Starmer came to power. There just aren’t the skilled workers needed. The hike in employer national insurance contributions and myriad of other costs imposed on businesses makes the cost of employing people a major obstacle to growth. The housebuilding industry has been hit particularly hard with ever more regulatory demands and obligations.

York Handmade Brick Company is the latest in a number of firms to find these costs, coupled with unaffordable energy to fire the bricks, just too much to carry on.

When all the brick companies have been put out of business where do Labour expect the bricks to come from – Legoland?

In reality they will be shipped in from low-wage countries.

We already import much paving from India. It looks like they will benefit from the demise of UK brick manufacturing.

Matthew Laverack,

Lord Mayors Walk,

York

…I AM deeply saddened by the news about this amazing brick company.

Our house is built of these bricks and the company where very professional people.

If no one takes over the business it will be a terrible loss to both staff and customers.

The government has a lot to answer for in making businesses less and less viable.

Christine Clark,

Ryther Road,

Cawood, Selby

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Pensions are earned

LET’S get something straight here, pensioners have earned their Government pensions through solidly working for up to 50 years and paying National Insurance all that time and that pension, I have to point out is the lowest in Europe.

The only people who are on £50,000 plus a year are those Civil Servants who work in Westminster and similar places.

The large majority of us get paid no more than £25,000 or less a year.

Ann Cruickshank,

Laund Road,

Huddersfield