WHAT’S the public sector thinking of going on strike? Did it make an impact? No!

Did it get sympathy?

Another no.

Things are difficult for everyone and not likely to improve for a while. When they do, that’s the time to negotiate.

Until then, everyone must accept that the country must cut its cloth accordingly, and at the moment, there is little cloth available.

Ian Duncan Smith’s speech that employers should take on young Britons in preference to workers from overseas has had lots of attention.

It’s not so easy to enforce if employers are left the choice, but wouldn’t it be better if those workers were not here in the first place.

Every government shies away from the immigration problem, yet we all know it’s an issue.

And when I say we I include the many long-term and settled migrants who have made their homes and contributed much to this country, who are equally worried.

But the main concern that we must face up to is that our over-generous ‘welfare’ is not helping the situation.

We have become acclimatised, conditioned and almost accepting that a section of people have a non-working life, earning as much sitting at home watching TV as they could going out to work.

Turning this situation around will not be easy but to ensure that it is not repeated by future generations we must start not to educate and impress on everyone that if you are fit to work you must.