MP is 'out of touch' with ordinary life, say Redditch residents - The Redditch Standard

MP is 'out of touch' with ordinary life, say Redditch residents

Redditch Editorial 21st May, 2022   0

FOLLOWING Redditch MP Rachel Maclean’s controversial Sky News interview, during which she appeared to suggest that some people struggling with the cost of living should work more hours or get a better paid job, reporter Ryan Smith went into Church Green to find out what residents thought about it all.

Mrs Maclean hit back at Sky News this week, saying that her interview had been twisted and sensationalised to feed an ‘outrage culture.’

Several of the people asked were unaware of the interview, but the majority of those who had seen the clip said that Mrs Maclean’s remarks didn’t sit right with them.

Kathryn Wiley said that she thinks that although the comments may well have been misrepresented, Mrs Maclean was still wrong.




She said: “A lot of people are having to do unpaid overtime and aren’t able to take on more hours.

“A lot of politicians are out of touch with reality and constantly putting people down.


“There are a lot of people that still have to use food banks. Politicians should try living like other people have to.”

Jason Danks agreed Mrs Maclean’s interview was out of touch, adding that people have been fighting for years to get their hours down and for better wages and her comments didn’t help.

Paul Morris said that everyone would like to work more hours or get a better paid job but for a lot of people it is just not possible.

One gentleman who currently lives on a pension said her remarks didn’t take into account the people that have to go without necessities.

“We all have to keep our essentials on like the fridge for example, and sometimes I look at my meter and I think ‘how have I spent so much today?’” he said.

“The politicians are all on mega-money and they don’t understand what a lot of people go through.”

Lisa Casey-Pucel has recently asked to work more hours in her job, however not due to the cost of living crisis.

She said: “I know some people who go on six to eight holidays per year and I think some people can cut back more to help themselves to get through.

“Having said that I know that everyone has different circumstances and I do understand that people are working 40 to 50 hours and still struggling.”

Another lady added that while some were suffering from the price increases, people in general needed to help themselves a bit more.

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