27/10/03

There is no doubt he frequently went "over the top" in his 36 years' membership of the Labour Party. He is a passionate, sometimes vitriolic, campaigner for what he believes in. When politics is full of dull, grey conformists who parrot "the party line", Mr Galloway has provided a colourful and very different approach.

It will be very difficult to persuade people that he has been expelled for breaking the rules, as he was, when many are familiar with parties ignoring "rule-breaking" when it suits them. Whether the Labour Party is really better off with him outside remains to be seen. Similar things were said about Ken Livingstone when he was expelled.

Grassroots Labour activists and supporters in Glasgow will face a dilemma in supporting their party or their long-standing Member of Parliament. Like Iraq, there may be many more casualties yet to follow. - Stuart Hill, Darlington.

BISHOP OF DURHAM

ALTHOUGH it was good to see a photo of the new Bishop of Durham at the railway village in Shildon (Echo, Oct 24), I do feel it was sad that you didn't mention the fact that he also spent two hours at the Ecumenical Church on the Woodhouse Close Estate in Bishop Auckland.

Here, he had the opportunity to see the extensive outreach work which is conducted from the church to one of the most deprived communities in Europe. He also met many of the devoted Christians who attempt to bring the light of Christ into a needy world.

Bishops are sometimes criticised for not being in touch with "ordinary" people, so it seems a shame to miss the opportunity to show the Shepherd with his flock. - Teresa Sutton, Bishop Auckland.

AIRPORT NAMES

NOW that Brussels has defined the North-East territorial unit in Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 as covering Tees Valley and Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, it seems reasonable that Durham City should be formally acknowledged as its capital.

It also seems reasonable that the two airports in this region should be designated Durham North and Durham South.

Both would benefit by having a real geographical meaning to the wider European forum and the names would convey the economic unity of the region. - WJ Mellors, Middridge.

IF you must change the name of Teesside Airport, please choose a name with local connection. Newcastle, York and Durham are not local to Teesside.

The airport lies between the boroughs of Stockton and Darlington, internationally known as the birthplace of the railways. May I suggest the name Stockton and Darlington George Stephenson International Airport. - John Lowe, Thornaby.

HUNTING

IT is very disturbing that huge numbers of people throughout the country are contemplating signing a declaration stating that they are prepared to challenge an impending law.

This situation has come about because of the Government's proposed bill to ban hunting with dogs.

Many people have been trying, with some success, to increase the public's awareness of the ways, and deeply held values, of the rural community, but sadly the understanding that, with consultation and careful thought, this situation can be resolved without any punches being thrown, does not seem to have filtered through to all our MPs.

I really hope I am not deluded in my belief that the law makers of this country are not so far removed from reality that they will lead us into a position where the rural community feel they have nothing to lose if they challenge authority.

I would encourage all who value their liberty to stand up and be counted by attending the North-East Meet at Trimdon on November 1 at 10am. - Angela Vaux, North East Regional Chairman, Countryside Alliance.

IMMIGRATION

I DO wish that Tony Kelly (HAS, Oct 22) and other correspondents would distinguish between asylum seekers and illegal immigrants.

Asylum seekers have made an official claim for asylum, and thus are easily and accurately counted.

Tony Kelly tells us there are no-go areas for normal people after dark. I hope he includes asylum seekers, who are normal people who have suffered injustice or persecution in their own countries. Many are now reluctant to go out for fear of racist attacks. Asylum seekers are no more likely than other people to be criminals, but are more likely to be victims of crime.

Crime, and the fear of crime, are serious problems, but they have little to do with the asylum issue. Durham police have recently demonstrated how working with local communities can dramatically improve the situation. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

COUNCIL TAX

I AGREE almost entirely with Hugh Pender (HAS, Oct 23) regarding council tax, which we all know has risen nearly 70 per cent under Labour.

It is interesting to note that Conservative controlled Kent County Council has recently agreed that any increase in council tax for pensioners will be pegged at the same level as inflation.

This from the same authority whose leader and councillors agreed to take a cut in their individual allowances in an attempt to save services hit by a lower than expected allowance from the Government.

Mirror that against Durham County Council and Wear Valley District Council, which both whimpered about their own Government handouts, yet whose leaders and councillors saw fit to increase their individual allowances by 16 per cent and nearly 50 per cent respectively.

The socialists will bang the drum to savage the rich, but there aren't many in Wear Valley. - Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland Conservatives.

INDUSTRY

THOMAS Conlon (HAS, Oct 22) comments on just one of the points I made at last week's Intertech event.

I also spoke about our proud industrial heritage and how the innovation, hard work and character of Durham people have helped to shape the county's economy.

To continue this process we need to develop new industries to create a more diverse and robust employment structure with high quality jobs for local people.

As Mr Conlon suggests, traditional craft industries have their place within such an economy, but to ensure that the county no longer suffers from the major economic slumps we experienced in the past, we need to develop and attract knowledge-based industries, capable of providing quality and well-paid employment for local people.

Durham County Council is working in partnership with many organisations and agencies to create the opportunities and environments in which these new industries can flourish and Intertech and NetPark are just two of the ambitious initiatives we are pursuing. - Ken Manton, Leader, Durham County Council.