I DON’T think I’ve seen a more vicious campaign as that concerning the ‘austerity’ strikes, by public sector workers.

Of course poor old Joe Public is again being conned and lied to, as the strikers are grossly misrepresented.

The original popular support for strikes for pensions has now become very unpopular, if polls can be believed. So, maybe I could remind Oxford Mail readers of some cold, hard facts.

The top 1,000 earners in the UK made more than £65bn last year, despite the “we’re all in it together” rubbish. This elite are ably protected by our beloved millionaire Prime Minister, whose pay package is well in excess of £500,000 a year.

Twenty one of the cabinet front bench are millionaires too, and it is their job to protect this elite.

And please don’t go on about New Labour. The vast majority are just the same money grabbing parasites. That’s why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

It’s a statistical fact which is quite remarkable in this day and age where we all have to tighten our belts.

Teachers and other public sector workers struck a deal with the Government recently, to take a pay freeze for two years and negotiated extra pension payments, along with other changes.

The National Audit Office and a Commons select committee of MPs recently evaluated public sector pensions and found them sustainable.

The NUT is campaigning for decent pensions in the private sector and the state pension, not just protecting their own.

The elite want a drive to the bottom. What better for this elite, than to have an economic crisis caused by the bankers (paid out to the tune of billions by Labour) still amassing huge bonuses under the Tories.

Now blame said crisis on teachers, dustmen, tax inspectors and other public sector workers.

Why should a teacher be expected to work until they are 68? That is an absolutely ridiculous idea.We don’t expect, at the age of 60, a fireman to run into a burning building, or a policeman to chase a drug dealer.

Of course, the elite have gold-plated pensions. Why aren’t they paying anything towards this banker-inspired crisis?

TIM SIRET Millmoor Crescent Eynsham