THROUGHOUT the whole of the last century, Spain has endured attacks from terrorists/freedom fighters (whichever side you take) from the Basque country, who demand their own country/government and still with no result, so it may continue.

If Britain hands over Gibraltar (after three centuries) to Spain against the wishes of all its residents, it may well initiate another century of terror, and, more importantly, will those resisting the change also vent their anger against the UK responsible for handing their homeland to what they see as a foreign country?

In the Falkland Islands, they celebrate a Margaret Thatcher Day because she saved the British descendants' independence from the Spanish descendants' invasion of their territory.

Will there ever be a Tony Blair Day in Gibraltar? - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

LET anyone who doubts the poisonous, treacherous anti-British ethos that exists at the core of this New Labour Government just take a look at its contemptuous treatment of the loyal population of Gibraltar.

So overwhelming is the desire of the people of Gibraltar to remain British that to even discuss the issue of sovereignty with Spain is a supreme insult to the patriotism of the Gibraltarians.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw visited Gibraltar this month and was greeted with an almost unanimous turnout of the population (30,000) who, in no uncertain terms, let him know what they thought of him and the British Government. Taunts of 'Judas' and 'traitor' abounded and the entire police force had to be mobilised as the authorities feared for Straw's safety. Tony Blair's messianic desire to become President of Europe is the driving force behind this particular act of treachery.

This, however, is but a dress rehearsal for the ultimate treachery that he and his co-quislings have in store for us. I refer to the campaign to tempt us to commit mass suicide and say 'yes' to the single currency in a referendum. All manner of scaremongering, deception and falsehoods will be applied.

We must resist the drive to destroy our democratic freedoms and parliamentary democracy in order to massage the vanity of Anthony Charles Lynton Blair and say 'no' to the euro. - Dave Pascoe, Press Office, Teesside Branch, UK Independence Party.

FIRE DEATHS

RUTH Campbell in her column (Echo, May 17) implies the British people are 'insidiously racist' because she considers the Asian family recently burned to death in Huddersfield did not receive the publicity they would have been accorded if they were white.

Ruth Campbell seems to me to be the insidiously racist person here, against whites; I found her article to be offensive and intimidating against white people and typical of the attitude prevalent among those of the politically left-wing persuasion, which serves in every way to defame the British people. - P Evans, Ferryhill.

FUNDAMENTALISM

PETE Winstanley (HAS May 18) accuses Britain and America of 'starting Islamic fundamentalism by supporting the Shah of Iran in 1953'.

Muslim fundamentalism began long before that date. Both Europe and India were invaded by Muslim warriors in 700AD and also in 1500AD.

In India about 1500AD, Muslims beheaded the ninth Sikh guru because he would not convert to Islam.

They also put a price on every Sikh head, forcing the Sikhs to carry the knife in self defence. America did not exist then and Britain was concerned with its own affairs.

Mr Winstanley continually derides the West, and then mocks it for being hated, his own insidious propaganda misrepresenting history must contribute to this hatred. - I Torrington, Esh Winning.

COUNCIL FINANCES

CAN someone please inform the residents why Band D council tax in Wandsworth, London is £398 against £1,200 here in the North-East?

Care homes closed, council housing stock bulldozed or sold off to housing associations. Leisure facilities slashed or closed completely. School swimming baths closed, new decor at county hall, council play areas grassed over, computers for councillors. Millions thrown at hair-brained projects on the same so-called problem estates. Run-of-the-mill duties tendered out, with the view of saving money. Need I continue?

New homes cropping up all over, obviously increasing the council tax intake.

While those in manufacturing have fought tooth and nail to reduce costs to stay competitive, councillors and a proportion of civil servants simply take the gravy train for all it's worth. Just what do they get? Petrol allowance, telephone, Internet, fax, car allowance, where does it end? If your background is that of the nationalised industries and large handouts, then you're hardly likely to know how to budget when the screw is tightened.

Let the public scrutinise council meetings, attendees, expenses paid, freebie buffet and dinner parties against value for money for the community. Savings by the millions, guaranteed. - Jim Tague, Chairman, Conservative Party, Bishop Auckland Branch.

Afghanistan

"WHAT is the truth?" said jesting Pilate. As far as events in Afghanistan are concerned, the truth is an elusive commodity.

The much-publicised find and destruction of a massive weapons dump has proved to be a complete fiasco.

These weapons belonged to allies of the coalition, according to a local warlord.

It appears that the only thing achieved in Afghanistan is the Taliban has been replaced by warlords who are being bribed by the West to maintain a semblance of order, apparently with little success.

We all know the outcome of Pilate's supercilious comment was the death of a good guy! - Hugh Pender. Darlington.