No Maggie here, we’re French ...

Both Simon Heffer and Nabila Ramdani (Summer of misery won’t stop Macron’s “Maggie Moment”, May 2018), seem agreed that concessions enjoyed by French railway workers and attempts to defend them are unreasonable. They believe that what needs to happen is for the French organised labour movement to be smashed so France can become like the neo-liberal paradise across the Channel.

They seem to feel the perks enjoyed by workers who’ve devoted a life to public service are unjust but have no problem with the massive rewards given to mediocrities in the financial sector who nearly helped the world economy into its grave.

I look at Britain and see a country that helps a few people get rich while impoverishing the lives of the rest. This has largely come about because Thatcherism destroyed the trade union movement.

No doubt Mr Macron hopes that the French will not have learned the lessons.

Steve Gelfer, Vienne

See also: Rail worker interview June 2018