History repeats itself with labour shortages in the wake of a pandemic

So what? Well, there’s a recognised shortage of skilled, experienced HGV drivers. Covid-related no doubt, as well as relating to pay, working conditions, training, retaining and that sizeable European cadre now absent from our workforce. Other sectors, beyond local authorities and their sub-contractors, are all bidding for the same: a specific workforce.

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What hasn’t slipped into mass media are the photos, comments, analysis of queues of lorries, miles long, waiting to depart from English ports. Stuck this side of the Channel, this produces the inevitable consequence of delays in returning with required goods. Anyone else noticed price increases, especially in food, along with gaps on shelves? The overall chain of supply, demand and delivery has been severely affected no matter the sector.

Ironically there’s a glimpse of history repeating itself: shortages, wages, workers. I’m no historian but a quick shiftie through history told me that following the mass deaths from the Black Death as it swept through England in 1348 there was a diminished workforce, especially land workers – yes, the peasants. Those still alive with their tools and labour began moving from one area to another, demanding better, higher wages.

For a while it worked, but the English Parliament of the day, worried about their base support in the upper classes, enacted the Statute of Labourers which set the maximum wages to be paid. Guess what? That didn’t benefit the peasants, labourers, workers.

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It is claimed, though, that the shift in power, even short-term, along with the demand for wage increases were partly the cause of the eventual Peasants’ Revolt. The Black Death was still around in the 17th century, but had a name change: the Plague. I wonder if the hooded men with herbs stuffed in the beaks of their bird masks were state-funded freelance entrepreneurs, or followers of the science of the day?

But from the 12th to the 17th to the 21st century, what chance of long-lasting, positive change for wage earners now? That HGV driver is as much a wage earner as a CEO, but in December 2020, Laurence Turner, head of research and policy at the GMB union, commented on “the staggering inequalities and exploitation in the world of work on the eve of the coronavirus outbreak” following a report by the High Pay Centre thinktank that revealed the increasing pay gap “between those at the top and those on the shop floor.” Nothing changes. Not even post-pandemic?

I’m not advocating a modernised Peasants’ Revolt – not beyond the ballot box, that is – but any attempt by the current Tory government to alleviate the rise in cost of living is being wiped out by the 1.25% increase in National Insurance, starting April this year. And this is happening as the UK Consumer Prices Index rose by 5.1% in the 12 months to November 2021, up from 4.2% to October. And also before the inevitability of fuel and heating increases. Yet again, workers will be squeezed, resulting the rise of in-work poverty. We already see the noted increase in the use of food banks, as the phrase “heat or eat” becomes an everyday cry.

The moral vacuum at the head of Westminster has been exposed again and again. If he won’t go, am I the only person worried that there will be a war in mainland Europe and beyond the death, destruction, geopolitical upheaval, the egotistical PM and his Tory faithful will have the excuse to do “a Thatcher” and lead the UK into battle from behind the safety of his desk, complete with the panoply of jingoism so beloved by warmongers?

Selma Rahman
Edinburgh

ON the BBC’s Sunday morning programme, the Deputy Prime Minister adopted the usual tactics of obfuscation and half-truths when faced with any questions that were in any way challenging. Dominic Raab struggles to be taken seriously as a politician at the best of times, but when faced with an interview in which he must defend his mendacious party leader, his empty rhetoric and bleating soundbites sounded hollow and lamentable.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson will decide how much of Sue Gray report is published, says Dominic Raab

He did, however, manage to convey the impression that the Sue Gray report into “partygate” may well be a whitewash, with the civil servant on a hiding to nothing as she attempts to construct an objective report on her boss’s conduct, alleged dishonesty and breach of the ministerial code. If, as Mr Raab suggests, the Prime Minister is able to veto publication of parts of the report, then any semblance of democratic procedure in this matter has ceased to exist and the whole affair will be a sordid summary of Johnson’s squalid and corrupt administration over the last two years.

The Gray report will, by its very nature and limitations in real authority, be constrained in what it can achieve. There is no depth that the Prime Minister will sink to in order to retain his position, no lie too big, no colleague too precious, no abdication of responsibility too devious or deceitful. If parts of the Gray report can be doctored or nullified then he will have no qualms about carrying this out. Mr Johnson is a ruthless, amoral and utterly dishonourable human being. If the report is not published in its entirety then Sue Gray must be transparently honest with the public regardless of the cost to the Conservative party, the Prime Minister or, indeed, herself.

Owen Kelly
Stirling

AN investigation into the PM, instigated by the PM, on terms defined by the PM, the final editing of which will be supervised by the PM, run by a person appointed by the PM, whose salary is paid by the PM and whose career depends upon the good will of the PM. What could possibly go wrong?

Walter Barrie
via email