Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters.

Take notice of children

REPORTS suggest that 72 per cent of 18-24 year olds turned out to vote in the General Election.

Young people have contributed, at least in some part, to shifting our political landscape.

They have shown politicians that they must not be underestimated and they must have their voices heard, but throughout the campaign we heard very little about their needs.

The Westminster election manifestos contained almost 135,000 words, yet only 210 of them were the words ‘children’ or ‘children’s’.

Through our work with 270,000 of the most vulnerable children, young people, families and carers every year, Barnardo’s has a unique understanding of what it means to grow up in the UK today.

The inescapable commercialisation of childhood, the insidious influence of social media, the ever-present risk of exploitation and the pressures on our children’s mental health all demand urgent attention.

A significant step forward would be a cabinet-level Minister For Children and Families.

Having such a role at the heart of government raises the volume of children’s voices in decision-making and sends a clear message about where the priorities of our society lie.

As the General Election results showed, our young people will be watching – and voting.

HUGH SHERRIFFE, Director Barnardo’s Midlands & South West

Thank you Jeremy

AT LAST the people in the UK have woken up to the lies put out by the government over the last seven years that austerity is needed to help balance the books and put the country back on its feet. This policy was shamefully supported by the town’s two MPs.

Austerity has seen more families rely on foodbanks, more people living in poverty, more people becoming homeless.

We have seen the Tory Government blame immigrants, refugees, people on benefits.

In fact the Tories have blamed anyone they could to take the blame off themselves for the problems their policies have created and the divisions in society they have caused.

Thank goodness for Jeremy Corbyn, who despite the hatred and bile thrown at him by the Tories and the Tory press has remained strong and stable, unlike the weak and wobbly May.

I will now have a glass of red and raise it to a true vintage red. Cheers Jeremy and thank you for what you are doing for the many and not the few.

MARK WEBB, Old Town, Swindon

Find positive news

HAVING just read in the Daily Mail that Honda’s sales of the new Civic are up 40 per cent on project forecast, would it not be a good idea to put a positive headline, rather than a negative ones about BMW and striking?

The personnel in Honda I am sure would welcome that.

It would make a change for news papers to find positive news.

MARTYN R PARROTT, Swindon