17/03/03

In this context it is not France and Germany saying that they would oppose a war at a later date. The UN inspectors have presented grey reports rather than black reports about their progress and have seen some purpose in continuing with their work without war at the present time.

It is perfectly obvious when we look at the attitude of most countries in the world that there is not unity in favour of military action against Iraq at the present time. The only Arab country that seems to be on board is Kuwait. Most Arab countries regard the position with Palestine and Israel as more a thorn in their flesh.

As to international law, my reading of what was said by Kofi Annan as Secretary General of UN is that, without overwhelming international support, action would be illegal.

I suspect that the advice Tony Blair received from his law officers is that he could arguably claim that he was acting in accordance with international law if he went on Resolution 1441, but would be acting contrary to international law if he lost the resolution that had been tabled.

It looks to me that there is more casuistry than moral principle involved here. The US intends, no matter what, to go forward and this leaves Tony Blair in a pickle, for many believe he must have authorisation for any action to sustain the principles of the UN charter.

We are in danger of returning to the 'might is right' world which has led to wars in the past and which led nations to agree to form the UN in the first place. - Geoffrey Bulmer Billingham.

WE read a lot of criticism by Labour ministers that, if France vetoes the UN supporting a war on Iraq, this would be unreasonable.

It's a bit rich coming from the US and UK. Over a comparative period, France has used its veto at the UN Security Council on 18 occasions. In the same period the UK used its veto 32 times and the US 76 times.

Even worse, the US veto has been used on over 30 occasions to prevent the UN taking a stand against the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

I am no fan of President Chirac. However, on this issue he will be saving the world from being torn apart if he puts a veto against the US's relentless drive to war. - Coun Steve Radford, Chairman of The Liberal Party.

BUS SERVICE

WHOEVER decided that passengers from Leyburn to Northallerton would have to change in Bedale need their heads read.

First, there is no shelter in Bedale. Secondly, that a bus would be waiting is a myth. I have had a bus late, a driver late and delays from pancake races.

Thirdly, if you catch the 2.30pm from Northallerton, there is no connection bus - one has to cross the road and catch the 3pm post bus or wait an hour, and nowhere in the timetable have I been able to find mention of this.

Fourthly, I have never yet seen a bus so full as to need a bigger one at Bedale.

At the age of 82 I stopped driving - sometimes now I wish I hadn't. - Irene Braithwaite, Leyburn.

pension FUND

I READ about £3bn lying in some bank that is to be paid over to Government coffers in April.

This money is in payment for the promise of Government to stand surety after the British Coal fiasco over mineworkers' pension schemes.

I would just like to ask what the Government has done to deserve 50 per cent of the profits from the scheme; £3bn is extortion.

Men worked and died and were injured to fulfill their part in this scheme. What did any government or MP do? Today some miners are living on a disgraceful pittance.

I cannot fight in this forthcoming so-called just war, but it seems Jack Straw can make promises to give more money to the military. I would like to know how much of the miners' pension scheme £3bn is he going to give. They did not earn this money. They stole it. - Name and address supplied.

LOCAL ECONOMY

THE recent announcement that 19 jobs are to go at Thorn, Spennymoor, is further bad news for the local economy.

When added to the Electrolux, Rothmans and Black & Decker job losses to cheap foreign labour, we have a situation that the Government needs to address.

I wrote to the chief executive of One NorthEast asking what it could do to attract new industries to Spennymoor and he is conducting a survey and will respond to me within the next few weeks.

The Northern Echo has campaigned to have the Barnett Formula either updated or replaced and for new industrial investment for the North-East. For the sake of the younger generation, many who have to move south for work, it is about time that we had Government action and for Sedgefield Borough to be granted "Enterprise Zone Status" which is backed by a 1,000-signature Spennymoor jobs petition. - Councillor B Ord, Spennymoor Ward, Sedgefield Borough Council.

NEW LABOUR

AFTER nearly six years in power and having promised the earth in 1997, people across the region are beginning to realise that the Labour Government is breaking the very promises they made to the British people at those two General Elections.

Labour promised no new taxes but has increased taxes; Labour promised to deliver improved public services, but public services are not improving; Labour promised not to impose tuition fees but has imposed tuition fees; Labour promised people they would defend British interest, but has consistently handed away more and more of our national powers. - Martin Callanan MEP, North-East Conservatives.