As you accept John Hayes’ money for front and back advertisements multiple times a year, would you consider opening a relatively tiny area in one of your less prominent columns to some slightly less flattering observations regarding Hayes and his recent obsession with flying flags on certain buildings in the area?
One feature of this has been letters sent in an unfortunate tone to many (if not all) headteachers around the constituency requiring them to fly flags on school premises. These communications clearly, in the present context, pressure headteachers to violate stipulations regarding political neutrality in the local authority code of conduct which all maintained school staff have to follow.
If John Hayes is unaware of these stipulations, he certainly should be. Guidance on political neutrality in schools was forcefully issued during the last administration, and was occasioned by alleged discussion in an (out-of-area) school of lockdown violations by Boris Johnson (who Hayes likes to brag is his friend). So it seems neutrality is OK, as long as it is pro-Hayes neutrality…
Hayes talks about patriotism and pride. Well let me tell you what we really should be proud of in this area, and it certainly isn’t John Hayes.
Dedicated local headteachers and teaching staff in schools in this area do a wonderful job, and have better things to do than deal with such ill-judged communications.
This is especially the case given the additional burdens placed on schools by the previous dispensation with which Hayes was associated. These included a direction to promote “British values” such as democracy, a direction school staff have nonetheless faithfully followed. But John, I have to tell you, I do not think that when your (and your mate Boris’s) party gets thrashed and turned out of office as it was last year, ordering schools about in the tone of a mafia boss corresponds to ‘democratic’ in any meaningful definition.
It is obvious what is really behind Hayes’ obsession, and patriotism it ain’t. His party’s poll ratings are terrible, and he has to try and steal far-right thunder lest Reform take his parliamentary seat.
I am sure John’s MP’s salary is very important to him: but why should any of the normal, less-paid working people in his constituency to whom he is completely unable to relate, care what happens to him?
G Kent
Pinchbeck
