14/12/04

Identity cards enabled the Nazis to separate the Jews and others for slaughter and the gas chambers.

Two decades later, the blacks in South Africa fell prey to the same process.

Placing the identity cards within their historical and social context highlights how easy it is to introduce many of the trappings of a police state in a way that it is hardly noticed.

David Blunkett's decision to introduce identity cards, backed by "civil penalties" levied at the whim of Home Office bureaucrats, is to me only further evidence of this Government's totalitarian tendencies.

His claim that in the present international situation these measures are necessary also stinks to high heaven. "Necessity is the plea of every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants, it is the creed of slaves," William Pitt, House of Commons, November 1783. - James Fitzpatrick, Gateshead.

DAVID BLUNKETT

THE furore over Mr Blunkett's alleged indiscretion shows no sign of abating.

As if his affair with Mrs Quinn wasn't enough, it has now been revealed that in his forthcoming biography he makes less then favourable comments about fellow Cabinet ministers.

This lack of discipline in his private and ministerial life does not reflect well on Mr Blunkett.

I am surprised Mr Blair did not lay the law down to his Cabinet ministers that no books should be published until after they return to the back benches or left Westminster altogether.

Whatever the outcome of the Alan Budd inquiry into this unfortunate affair, it is my opinion that David Blunkett has been the architect of his own downfall.

It is a tragedy for him, for he has been a Labour Party stalwart for many years and apparently is highly regarded by his constituents.

I would not be at all surprised if he were to resign and I believe that would be the right thing to do. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

NATIVITY

FOR stand-ins for a nativity play I would choose Paul McCartney and Heather Mills for Mary and Joseph; I would choose Donny Osmond for the angel, and Bruce Forsyth, Des O'Connor and Michael Parkinson for the three Wise Men.

I would choose any well-behaved baby to play Jesus, although I must admit that the stand-ins chosen in The Northern Echo are already an excellent choice.

As for the three shepherds I would choose David Bowie, Rod Stewart and Joe Brown.

I would choose Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan as the innkeeper and his wife, and Patrick Moore as the evil King Herod. - Margaret A Greenhalgh, Darlington.

IT'S coming to something when Christophobic diktats are finding Nativity scenes on Christmas cards so offensive that they are legislating bans on such imagery being displayed.

The feeble excuse being offered is that our traditional Christian festivals are offensive to people of other religions and cultures who have moved into the UK. Can we imagine the same considerations being offered over aspects of Islam in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else in order to suit?

I have friends of cultures outside of Christianity to whom I enjoy sending Christmas greetings to and who enjoy receiving them and who are happy to be included in the Christmas celebrations.

Christianity has been here on our shores for 2,000 years, and, according to some, was probably brought here by Joseph of Aramathea. It was here even as Rome was still worshipping its pagan deities. Yet all of a sudden the Balk, Bin and Ban-it brigade want to outlaw our traditional freedoms. This is but a start of something more sinister.

Seemingly, Christianity isn't as offensive to our friends of other religions, as it is to atheistic bigots! - Bethany Megan Robinson, Darlington.

HEALTH SERVICE

WITH the publication of Sir Nigel Crisp's recent report, there can be little doubt that progress is being made in the NHS.

The chief executive's glowing account said that the number of patients waiting for operations had fallen by 12 per cent in a year.

Figures also revealed that the total waiting list had fallen, as had those for GP appointments.

This was Sir Nigel Crisp's second NHS report this year and once again he was able to speak of genuine improvements. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

I HAVE to admit I laughed out loud when I read your article (Echo, Dec 9). The sentence that provoked this outburst was: "The aim is to provide seamless medicines management throughout the different care settings".

Who are these people trying to impress with their meaningless management speak?

Certainly the people likely to use this service won't have a clue what that means. This gobbledegook is not big and not clever, so please let's stamp it out altogether and get back to calling things what they actually are.

By the way I thought it was doctors who decided patients' medication. - Kathryn M Harris, Teesdale.

ECONOMY

DURING the seven years in which our Labour Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has governed us, inequality has grown. The upper 50 per cent of the population now owns 95 per cent of marketable assets. The wealthiest one per cent has seen an increase in its take of the national cake double from 6.5 per cent to 13 per cent.

The top one fifth of the population now pay a smaller proportion of their income in tax, 34 per cent, than the bottom fifth, 42 per cent.

One hundred and ninety company directors received more than £1m each in 2003. British Petroleum is on course to reap £9bn profit this year, while a minimum wage was set at £4.10 per hour.

The party membership has halved since Blair came to power, hitting a new low of 215,000 in September.

The Labour Party, as they have the cheek to call themselves, no long represents the working people of this country. As Blair said during the last election campaign: "For a few more years yet those at the top of the scale have little cause for worry." - John Beech, Kelloe.

HUNTING

ARE we really going to see precious police resources, which would be far better spent on catching the real criminals, wasted trying to stop fox hunting?

This legislation was, with respect, only ever introduced as a sop to those who saw it as a class issue.

Enough time and resources have already been wasted on this matter. Cleveland Police and the courts should be left to concentrate on serious crimes, not made to pursue lost courses.

What more evidence does the Government need that the new fox hunting ban won't work?

When the first person was prosecuted in Scotland, where a ban is already in force, he was cleared of the charge.

In addition, the Countryside Alliance plans to continue hunting as normal when the law is introduced here in England in February 2005. - Coun Ken Walker, Middlesbrough.