The financial “whizzkids”

have done it again! Suddenly we are introduced to PFIs (Private Finance Initiatives).

It seems some years ago, when new hospitals needed to be paid for, the financial experts signed the unsuspecting taxpayers up to the PFIs, under terms unequalled even by loan sharks.

Now, when it all comes to the surface because sections of the NHS are so crippled by the repayments they are unable to move forward, our so-called experts appear in the media, giving forth a load of gibber, trying to make it all sound acceptable. It was not acceptable then and not acceptable now.

Elsewhere, we read of a council which has sacked all its workers, then reemployed them, but at less than they were paid before.

Our wonderful legal system says that’s OK.

I think what would be more acceptable would be to sack all the public purse-paid financial experts, all the top managers and all the people involved in setting their wage levels (having first ripped up all contracts involving golden handshakes), then examine their CVs to see if they are worth re-employing at 25 per cent of what they were paid before.

Andrew Stubbs
Ferry Road
Fingringhoe