MYRA Hindley is described as the icon of evil (Echo, Nov 16). She was the focus of hate. Not all of us join the chorus.
Those of us who have read Leviticus know the function of the scapegoat.
I believe that she should have been punished, but all punishment must have its limitations. The penal system is responsible for setting a tariff for punishment. Then it has to consider release. The approach has to be pragmatic.
In Myra Hindley's case three things had to be considered. The first is certainly about remorse. A second is whether she still posed a threat to society. The third is whether her presence outside custody would have provoked further violence.
Home Secretaries are politicians. They have to balance sound judgement with what public opinion might be. A judge might be able to ignore public opinion with impunity. I think he might still weigh it up.
We shall soon have a ruling on how similar cases in future will be handled. Myra Hindley will never know. - Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.
REGIONAL ASSEMBLY
NOW that regional government is firmly on the political agenda I would submit that the question of the boundaries of a North-East region needs to be looked at.
It is surely illogical that the area between the Tees and the Cleveland Hills should be split between two regions; in fact it would seem to make sense if the whole of the TS and DL post code areas were to be part of the same region, which should, perhaps, also include Whitby and the Esk Valley.
I strongly suspect that the division of England into so-called regions is a foregone conclusion, as this is what our overlords in Brussels will require, but I would be much happier if the idea of having an English Parliament, combined with the strengthening of existing local government were also an option. - Peter W Elliott, Eaglescliffe.
THE whole concept of a regional assembly, its powers, its structures, its finance, its function, its location, still remain as clear as the fog on the Tyne. The people have yet to demonstrate enthusiasm for the concept because they have not been told what they are getting.
You wouldn't buy a car if the salesman couldn't tell you its engine size, fuel consumption, how many people it could carry, how many doors it had or how much it cost. In this case the salesman doesn't even know how many wheels it has.
If we have a North-East Assembly, the rest of the regions will end up with one, so we will all be back to Westminster and Brussels fighting for the same share, or less, of the pie, the region having a weaker voice than the wealthier regions such as the South-East. A greater voice for the region is what we want. More money for the region is what we want. More power back to local authorities and give them the teeth to get rid of the quangos. That is where community, democracy and identity begin and belong. At the minute we are being sold a donkey dressed up as an ass. An ill-conceived and ill-thought out plan which will contribute to global warming with hot air and no delivery. No wonder Tony Blair has washed his hands of it and left it to John Prescott.
Give the power back to local authorities. Give them the teeth to remove the quangos and keep democracy close to the people where it counts. - Neil Herron, North-East Against Regional Assemblies, Sunderland.
NEW LABOUR
THE BBC drama "The Project" was a frightening portrayal of the smears and dirty tricks that helped get New Labour elected.
The fact it was based on real interviews with real Labour officials, unlike the fictional House of Cards years ago, illustrated the cynicism and lack of principle of the people who manipulate the people who govern us.
The makeovers and haircuts, simple sound bites, staged TV pictures, bullying of its own MPs, and craven cronyism cannot disguise the most obvious failure of the Government - it is costing us more in tax but giving us less in public services.
Labour has given us university tuition fees, an NHS that has failed to improve, violent crime on the increase, a transport system that works more slowly and costs us more.
Labour controls every level of government in Darlington and County Durham. Life is not really better for anyone apart from the politicians who are all paid more.
The "Project" seems to have run out of steam. New ideas are needed. I believe the Conservatives will be able to provide them, provided they are able to put them across in a media dominated by Labour's bullying spin-doctors. - B Stapley, Darlington.
QUESTION OF TIME
WHY is our time designed so oddly? There are 60 seconds in one minute, 60 minutes in one hour, 24 hours in one day, seven days in a week, 52 weeks in one year and months with 28, 29 leap year, 30 and 31 days.
Why could not everything be divisible by ten? - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.
MIDDLE EAST
I WOULD like to respond to A Williams's absurd accusation (HAS, Nov 9). In my previous correspondence I have repeatedly acknowledged Israel's right to exist.
My contention is that the Palestinians also have a right to a viable state of their own. Israeli forces must withdraw from the occupied territories, the illegal settlers must return to Israel and water and other resources must be fairly shared.
Peter Mullen, of course, would argue that this is pandering to terrorists by giving them what they want. It isn't. It is starving them of shelter, support and recruits by denying them any claim to a just cause. It is not, in any case, what the likes of Hamas want. They do not recognise the state of Israel and while their murderous activities are ostensibly in retaliation for equally indefensible attacks by Israeli tanks and helicopters, they are also designed to sabotage any such compromise solution. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article