“Holding the country to ransom” is a trope that is trotted out by elements of the media – and often Cabinet Ministers – nearly every time there is an industrial dispute. When transport workers, ambulance crews, nurses or fire fighters consider taking industrial action over pay, terms and conditions...
Opinion Pieces
Reader’s letter: we can enjoy nostalgia but accept and embrace change
I follow a few Southampton history pages on Facebook and love the variety of posts about people, places and events. I particularly love the stories of local folks who didn’t become nationally or internationally renowned but were important in their own little communities and contributed to the rich fabric...
Reader’s letter: my message to striking workers – keep fighting
I first joined a union when I started at Royal Mail and have always been in a union since whenever possible. Back then there was a very large union membership. While at Royal Mail I had a couple of disciplinary issues one of which could have led to me...
Reader’s letter: do architects ever ask disabled people about accessibility?
Why has it apparently never occurred to architects or designers to actually ask disabled people about accessibility? Like genuinely. Just grab a handful of us and ask if something will work, and if not, what would work better. If this had happened, almost every disabled toilet would be totally...
Reader’s letter: essential services should be run for people, not simply for profit
As Saturday’s post arrived I met the postman at the door. He handed me my letters. A very important hospital referral I’d been waiting for for one of my children, a small package of something I’d ordered off of eBay, a wedding anniversary card and a couple of other...
Reader’s letter: Southampton is rich in culture but too many projects are ‘top down’
Dear Editor, I have just read the letter concerning requests for access to data amassed during the unsuccessful City of Culture bid. I too had wondered how we would build on the work done; Access to good quality up-to-date data would be a great place to start. I’ve been...
Reader’s letter: what’s happened to all the City of Culture data?
I’d like to ask what use will be made of the wealth of data accumulated during the City of Culture bid. There surely has to be an incredible amount of facts, figures, qualitative as well as quantitative information, most of which I’d like to think can be brought to...
Opinion: should we be worried that Southampton is a Freeport? (hint: yes)
by Charlie Hislop. I’ve been interested in the development of cities and how they work since I was a student in the 70s, and if something new is going to affect my city’s future, I’m on it. Southampton has been designated as a Freeport, so I’ve been taking a...
Experience: it was supposed to be a perfect evening – instead my young child suffered a racist assault
by Dr Nazneen Ahmed Pathak. This was me and my 9 year old son, R, at Mayflower Theatre, our biggest commercial theatre in Southampton, yesterday, for some precious mummy-son time, like lots of other families, five minutes before curtains up. Look at his thrilled little face. It’s because he’d...
Letter: City of Culture money should help disadvantaged local children visit theatre
by Corinne Finlay. I would like to see the money (awarded to Southampton as a runner up to becoming City of Culture 2025) go towards opportunities for disadvantaged children to have access to big theatre productions. Some Southampton children will never get the opportunity to see a West End...