26/09/03

For example, they are making it compulsory for us all to eat GM food by refusing to allow GM free areas. All crops will soon be GM contaminated. This will kill the organic markets, as no doubt is intended.

They are making it compulsory for us all to drink fluoridated water. So we will no longer be able to choose what we eat and drink, but only what we are told.

They are planning to make the MMR injection compulsory by removing the availability of single vaccines. So we'll no longer be free to decide for ourselves what is best for our children, but will have to do as we are told again.

They are planning compulsory identity cards for us all, making it even easier for criminals to use our identity by stealing the cards.

We will not even be free to buy the vitamins and health supplements we like but only those from selected suppliers that the Government allows.

I never thought I'd write a letter like this, perhaps in future they won't even allow us to do that. - A Hall, Darlington.

MANY good Labour people believe that Gordon Brown is waiting in the wings ready to leap into the fray and save us all from the grosser excesses of Tony Blair's arrogant ignorance.

His recent statement that 'it is only by encouraging private enterprise and by rewarding it properly that we will create the growth, productivity and employment we need,' clearly gives the lie to this belief.

Lord alone knows where Mr Brown picked up the free market infection, but in him it has reached an advanced stage and is almost certainly terminal.

Tens of thousands of trade union members could tell Mr Brown what free market flexibility means: periodic bouts of redundancy, no career structure, almost continuous retraining, regular drops in wages and the necessity to move where the work is, disjointing family life to a sometimes unbelievable level. It means £2.44 an hour for packing vegetables and the most punitive and restrictive anti-trade union laws in Europe.

Socialist dreams of Mr Brown as the new saviour are all pipe dreams. New Labour's money man is one of Thatcher's children, even more doctrinaire than his master in No 10. - James Fitzpatrick, Gateshead.

THE Liberal Democrats' victory in the Brent East by-election was a fine achievement by the party. It did very well indeed to overturn a Labour majority of 13,000. The party will now be hoping to repeat the success at the next General Election.

As for the Conservatives, the party today is certainly very different from the one I remember in the 1950s and 1960s. During that period the party was known as a powerful force that always united behind its leader. Even Harold Wilson respected the Tories as a great party. Present day leader, Iain Duncan Smith, unfortunately for him, does not enjoy the full support of his party. Some would prefer to see Kenneth Clarke as leader.

Given the Tories' present difficulties and the fact that there does not have to be a General Election until 2006, it is premature to speak of the Labour Government's demise. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

I CANNOT believe that Tony Blair has the gall to bring back two disgraced Cabinet ministers to help him tell more lies and deceit to our people.

Stephen Byers and Peter Mandelson were both in his previous Government. Just where is the trust and honesty in this so-called Government?

You have a Cabinet full of failed ministers plus hundreds of puppet MPs who are afraid to stand up and tell Mr Blair that enough is enough and tell him what damage he has done to our country and our people by his obsession with Europe, and the damage he has created with the thousands of illegal immigrants in to our country. Now we have David Blunkett telling us he has not a clue how many are in our country and no idea of stopping them. - F Wealand, Darlington.

EUROPE

I WAS visiting my son in Germany when the euro was introduced, an introduction which was unwanted by the people and on which they had no say.

I have just returned from Germany again and the effect of this change in currency has been little short of catastrophic to the ordinary people of Germany.

Prices have rocketed (a loaf of bread costing almost £2) while wages have remained the same.

Small businesses have folded and the supermarkets, whilst full of goods, are almost empty of customers because they cannot afford to buy.

My daughter-in-law has resorted to making her own bread, which is very nice but after a long, tiring day at work, for which she is paid very little, this is not exactly a way of relaxing.

I sincerely hope that if and when are given a referendum on this issue we will all think of these points and vote like our Swedish friends: a resounding no.

Let us keep our pound and give in no further in the European rat race. The only people who have benefited from all this European hype are the ones sitting in Brussels and Strasbourg who are picking up fat fees for thinking of more ridiculous rules and regulations for which we have to pick up the tab. - Mrs PA Aspinall, Crook.