I AM thoroughly disheartened by reports in the news of a rise in racism directed at NHS staff. Many of them face long commutes to work because they can't afford to live in York on their salaries. We are lucky to have them, and they really don't deserve such pig-ignorant bigotry in this day and age. The UK cannot unilaterally tow migrant boats back to France without explicit permission from French authorities. Have you noticed how 60 or so years ago our Secretary of State for Defence was a politician called Healey?