REPLYING to Mr Macdonald’s supposition that I am a Tory apologist.
I base my comments on the way I see them I have no allegiance to any political party, my only allegiance is to Great Britain and its population.
He may think that Brexit was a failure, if so why are the Germans, French, and Italians to name but a few trying to leave the EU, a lot of them taking the Communist side of view?
Once again I make no apologises – I an 84 years of age and have seen governments come and go and I can assure him which were best and which were the worst.
At this point in time, Keir Starmer’s government is winning hands down as the worst in British history if in doubt go on to the streets and ask the people.
T J Ryder,
Acomb,
York
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Role of legal sector in UK industrial strategy
THE legal sector must be prioritised in the government’s new industrial strategy due to its interconnections with other sectors and significant impact on the UK economy and society.
The Law Society of England Wales responded to the industrial strategy consultation highlighting that the legal sector is the second largest gross value-added producer (GVA) within professional services.
Research on the economic contribution of legal services to the economy shows the sector’s turnover was £74.4 billion and £57.8 billion in GVA (2021).
From the international law firms in London and Cardiff to the high street law firms, legal services continue to be a major UK export equalling to six per cent of UK’s positive trade balance. But its role in supporting local communities is unique.
More than half a million people are employed or supported by the legal sector. Legal services are also one of the last remaining pillars of our high street. More than half of the legal sector’s turnover derives from outside of London, making it one of the last big sectors that actively and directly supports local economies and communities.
The industrial strategy should include a focus on small and medium-sized law firms that are often engines of growth in their communities and the legal sector may hold the key.
Richard Atkinson
President of the Law Society of England and Wales
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Memorial at Rowntree Park should be remembered
IN his article of December 4 on York parks, David Wilson observes that Rowntree Park “is of course named after the local Quaker entrepreneur and philanthropist Joseph Rowntree”.
So it was indeed but this is only part of the reason: the main reason is of much more significance.
On the July 16, 1921, the then Yorkshire Evening Press reported that the title deeds of the park had been donated ceremonially to the then Lord Mayor of York by Joseph Rowntree.
The title deeds represented the gift of the park to the citizens of York to become a memorial to those members of the of the Rowntree company’s staff who had suffered as a result of the First World War. There is a plaque recording this dedication within the lychgate beneath the dovecote in the centre of the park.
The dovecote itself houses a flight of white doves of peace which has recently supplemented the descendants of those installed originally a century or so ago.
This dedication is not widely known these days but it should not be forgotten.
Miss N A Sinclair,
Connaught Court,
St Oswald’s Road,
Fulford, York
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