Richard PearsonThe shoe and leather industry became too expensive to produce just as the almonds.

Richard PearsonOther nationalities, just like in the UK, as no British born citizen won't do the dirty work either.

Revisiting the autonomo system would be a start. Then at least young entrepreneurs would stand a chance of starting a business legally. The costs are crippling, before people even start to pay tax. And there’s little or no differentiation between the size of a business. Young businesses don’t really stand a chance.

The question people should be asking is how long is too long. It wasn’t so long ago that Majorca had a very vibrant and profitable agricultural sector, think oranges, olives, almonds etc. It also had a very large and successful shoe manufacturing industry, as well as a leather goods industry. The furniture industry was a big employer and who hasn’t heard about Majorcan pearls ? I understand the pork industry and its products were very well regarded as well. They were also world beaters in smuggling and hoodwinking foes and allies alike. People still eat oranges, olivesh, almonds and pork chops, still wear shoes and belts and pearls and generally still carry on sitting and lying down. And what to say about recreational drugs? What happened ? What went wrong ? Beachcomber ?

AmbergrilloAnd their imported workers, which would make the population overcrowding problem even worse, not to mention other things we are not allowed to talk about. Anyone who thinks that the native population is going to start picking potatoes, or any other crop for that matter, need their heads examining. They don’t even want to do menial work in the hospitality industry, for Ch..ts sake ! The yachting industry, with its maintenance and repair offshoots, has been one of the only real “diversification” that has shown any promise, and even this has had spokes put in its wheels by all the local governments. Why ? Because a vast majority of the people involved in same don’t or can’t vote.

People. Wake up. There are no other eggs or baskets that Mallorca can produce to support the population at present. Selling potatoes isn't going to benefit anybody but a few farmers in Sa Pobla

Would the question ‘would LESS tourism improve your standard of living’ be more pertinent?

Richard PearsonMaybe those living in the woods behind Pagurea Richard. But agriculture seriously in an isolated island with limited water . IT , programming, fintech maybe, but agriculture?…

And who, may I ask, is going to do the dirty work ?

Previous Governments could/should have seen this coming. All members of those past Governments are responsible for not taking measures to diversify Mallorca's economy and its income streams and for relying too heavily on tourism. I hope each and every one reflects on this.