Dear Richi Sunak

[CarolineFields]

I have been a teacher for 30 years, and have at different times been head of department and head of year. Unfortunately, as a mother, it was impossible for me to full fill these roles because of the workload, so I resigned from both.

I made sacrifices to support my child through state school and university

I couldn't afford to replace my glasses, the prescription I used was 5 years out of date.

I have one pair of school shoes, and because I can't afford the bus, and walk 5 miles to school several times a week, I leave my shoes at school, because if they wear out I won't be able to replace them

I used a 10 year old asthma inhaler rather than pay the prescription charge for a new one.

The cats and I shared one heated vest under a duvet rather than turn on the central heating

I save a little bit by charging my phone and laptop from a camping style solar panel - I don't know how much this actually saves, but it must be something, right?

Holidays were camping, by public transport, off peak.

I am middle income, middle class, and consider myself reasonably comfortably well off- no serious worries about housing or food, as so many people suffer with daily.

I have never, in my wildest dreams considered the ludicrous and insane extravagance of taking out a sky tv subscription.

I understand that to some people this is a top priority, as football is such a crucial aspect of our countries cultural life. People who do take this out, will be making massive cuts elsewhere

I am very sorry, but I cannot begin to understand where you are coming from, believing that missing out on sky TV is some sort of sacrifice or deprivation.

I am stunned. I am gobsmacked. I can't take it in. I don't know what to say. I am reeling. I am so shocked. I don't know what it would have been possible to say to alienate me more than what you have just said.

I am sorry. I am struggling to articulate the depth of my astoundedness. It is like my soul can't absorb the words and gags on them. Its like a soul emetic

Ditto to that.
And I’d say much the same to anyone who posts about Kier Starmer.

I’m a HCP I suspect in a slightly lower income bracket than you I’m single with a mortgage I wear my work shoes (trainers) 5 days a week averaging 15-20 000 steps, a pair lasts me a year and I usually wear them to walk the dog before work another 4000 steps. I’m middle class and a middle income earner I’m not laughing all the way to the bank but I’m not going to insult people’s intelligence by pretending I can’t afford to get prescription meds or get on a bus (which by the way costs £10 here) when I know from my work that there are plenty of people who really are struggling. I used to work in schools I never saw a teacher leave their shoes under their desk. I agree Richie is a total twat and out of touch with the general population I have no intention of voting for him but I’m afraid your OP just doesn’t ring true either, you sound as out of touch with those who are in the minimum wage unable to get a decent roof over their heads and pay for life’s essentials as he does.

Its a play on words.

For the millionth time in this thread.

I can't believe you think dreamt is spelt drempt. I hope you're not a teacher.

I truly hope this poster is not a teacher. Head of year?! Jesus Christ.

Fulfil op. Stop putting two Ls and join the words up.

To be fair to the OP, as a die hard conservative, Rishi banging on about sky tv did make me raise an eyebrow. He’s trying to be relatable but missed the mark. I would prefer that he concentrated on managing the economy.

What a load of absolute shite!!

I don't get it often, what is the your question?

I am not at work, I am on mumsnet, and thankfully, not required to put any time or energy into checking my spelling or grammar here and now, nor of paying any attention to anyone quibbling about it. I am dyslexic. i suggest you stop sneering at people who have disabilities, because some other people might not react as mildly as I do

also, doesn't say much very nice about you, does it

It's actually extremely dangerous to be asthmatic and not have access to reliever medication.
That ten year old pump could be the false economy that kills you

You should not be outraged by Sunak's idea of ''deprived''. His heritage is India - so he will know full well about extreme poverty. His parents left Kenya in the 1960s - after independence - Indians were not welcome there then. They were educated but left as immigrants to UK with nothing or very little. He has succeeded because he is very intelligent, ambitious and hard working (as presumably were his parents). He did marry a very wealthy woman - so no doubt has social skills, charm etc as well. Perhaps you could turn on the charm too - who know what it might achieve?

Op you choose to have a child now complaining you must look after said child? This is what you choose.
He is a rich silver spoon murherfuker but let's stop with the 'i can't afford to feed my child' did you not think of this BEFORE getting pregnant? Having savings,? A house? Something to fall back on? We aren't living in some 3rd world country that doesn't have access to abortion or contraception

well, this was a short while back- I now have free prescriptions and have an up to date inhaler, thank you though

Because every normal person on a normal income is making sacrifices many orders of magnitude greater than that on a daily basis just to put their children in normal nurseries, and normal state schools, and normal universities.

Define normal OP.

Normal≠Average

I am not complaining.

I am perfectly happily muddling by like everyone else

I am angry. Well beyond angry. That we have a pm who considers himself disadvantaged while rich beyond the furthest imaginings of any normal person. So rich that he described not having sky TV as a sacrifice. Such a major sacrifice was this in his life that he still feels the injury 40 years later.

None of the teachers at my school are so poor that they can afford only one pair of shoes, or glasses, or prescriptions. They are relatively well paid! They are well dressed, have nice holidays, have meals out, have moderate but nice houses and cars and

Cancer patients get free prescriptions for five years after diagnosis or whilever they are taking cancer related medications if longer than that.

Teachers get 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay for a long-term illness like cancer.

If you really are a teacher, who's worked for 30 years, you will be on a good salary and therefore the sacrifices you are making must be in order for you to spend your salary elsewhere. Large mortgage? School and university fees? There are plenty of families on lower incomes than you who are able to afford some of the luxuries you are supposedly sacrificing.

this is very ignorant! particularly about the pay and conditions of teachers

Can you explain why this is ignorant?

If you want a laugh about about competitive poverty, watch this pre-Monty Python skit. It will sound very familiar. 😂

Online for £20ish. If they're very strong then Asda for £80.

Some of the responses on here just go to show why we are in this mess. People who don't get your post must be either dim or wilfully ignorant OP 🤷🏻‍♀️

I am stunned. I am gobsmacked. I can't take it in. I don't know what to say. I am reeling. I am so shocked

I am sorry. I am struggling to articulate the depth of my astoundedness. It is like my soul can't absorb the words

Are you a Drama teacher?!
How very dramatic.

I have never, in my wildest dreams considered the ludicrous and insane extravagance of taking out a sky tv subscription

You sound very melodramatic! The latest series' on Sky and Netflix are a popular conversation choice in my school staffroom! Not just with the teachers but TAs too who are paid £12 an hour (admittedly, none of them could afford to be a TA if they didn't have husbands with better paid jobs)

I know that when I've tried to take advantage of cheap offers for glasses, every time I've been told that my astigmatism adds to the cost.

I tried to use Specsavers to cut the cost but was then told that the two-for-one offer didn't allow you to get one pair for distance plus a pair of readers. (Could not get used to varifocals/bifocals.)

Not at Asda...
I have an astigmatism btw. They really are amazing value.