Hear All Sides

HOUSE OF LORDS

I WAS glad to see the Government's second stage of the House of Lords reform White Paper.

The removal of the remaining 92 hereditary peers was long overdue. Of course, the Tories don't like it and carp on about "a chamber of Tony's cronies".

Before the Labour Party came to power there were three times as many Tory peers than any other party. But we all know a level playing field was never in any Tory plans.

I hope in the near future we see the abandonment of all titles, where would-be lords and ladies are called Mr and Mrs, the same as everybody else, and where workers are never again humiliated having to call their employers master, sir or ladyship.

If the House of Lords has to function, the Government's proposed retirement age of 75 should be endorsed. - JL Thompson, Crook.

FOOT-AND-MOUTH

THE emerging story of government mismanagement of the foot-and-mouth crisis confirms my view that agricultural matters such as these are better dealt with at a much more local level.

In Wales, for example, the decisive action of the Welsh Assembly limited the foot-and-mouth outbreak there. The quick response to the outbreak in Wales contrasts with that in England, where it took nearly three weeks before a co-ordinated and concerted approach was taken.

If Yorkshire too had a regional assembly, I believe we would have been much quicker out of the blocks than the Whitehall-based mandarins in supporting rural communities.

With the issue of flooding also on the agenda, wouldn't it be so much better to have a devolved regional body able to co-ordinate all the agencies and deal coherently with these sorts of problems in times of crisis and alleviating much of the frustration felt by people in Yorkshire? - Diana Wallis MEP, Hull.

WAR ON TERRORISM

ANY group of disaffected humans will look around for someone to blame for their predicament. Hitler blamed Jews and massacred six million. In Northern Ireland, the Catholics blame the Protestants and the Protestants blame the Catholics.

In Cyprus, the Muslim Turks blame the Greek Christians and the Greeks blame the Turks; in Israel the Arabs blame the Jews and the Jews blame the Arabs. Therefore it is not unremarkable that, as America is the richest and most powerful country in the world, that any disaffected group will blame them for their own unfortunate situation.

What is most bizarre in the recent terrorist attacks is the fact that Osama bin Laden is from a wealthy Saudi Arabian family and the Saudi wealth was obtained by the American technology which exploited the oil wealth in that country.

Afghanistan is sheltering the man who killed thousands of Americans on September 11. Who supported the Afghans and helped to dispatch the Russians from the Afghan homeland? America, of course. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

ALTHOUGH I'm no fan of Tony Blair, I've admired his statesmanship over the last few weeks. He fulfilled what he saw as his duty and visited places where he knew a hot reception and ridicule awaited.

With rumblings in the Labour ranks showing already, Mr Blair should well know that, when the question is about Britain's safety, his friends lie on the other side of the House of Commons.

The Labour Party has systematically taken away the Great from Britain.

As for domestic issues, why doesn't he leave responsibilities with that well-respected and learned character John Prescott?

With a front bench of great achievers also including Straw, Cook, Blunkett, Milburn and Short, is it any wonder Tony Blair has to do all the work.

In times of national crisis when the heat is turned up, Tony has found where his real allies are, wearing blue rosettes.

Isn't it strange that, on this issue alone, Tories and their supporters stand shoulder to shoulder with the leader of the country while Labour MPs and the lefties undermine his every move? - Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland.

MICHAEL BARRYMORE

I DID not see the TV interview with Michael Barrymore, but I know many people were disgusted by it.

I quite agree with Tony Kelly of Crook (HAS, Nov 8) that he should be kept off the TV screens. - John Carter, Darlington.

SCOTTISH POLITICS

AM I the only one to find Scottish politics confusing? I always thought that Henry McLeish was the straight man for Benny Hill. - Martin Birtle, Billingham.

HEALTH PROMOTION

I WAS 72 in April and nothing, nobody, could possibly persuade me that I was old. In my mind, I'm still a teenager at heart, so I presume I can still behave like one.

Nowadays, I have to restrain myself from sliding down the banister rail. During the summer months, generally speaking, if I watch what I'm doing I get away with it - particularly if I'm careful coming down the stairs. I went down with a terrible whack on one occasion though. Just smooth-soled shoes on a stair carpet and down I went. I sat where I'd fallen for a good five minutes in case I'd broken something. Fortunately I hadn't.

When winter comes, it brings the additional hazard of slippery surfaces. Do take care. Falls so easily happen, and the results can be so painful and so inconvenient.

If you're like me and like to be active and young at heart, take extra care because we're the ones in the high-risk zone.

The Avoiding Slips, Trips and Broken Hips campaign from Health Promotion England and the Department of Trade and Industry offers simple advice to reduce your risk of a fall.

Call 0870 1502 500 for a free information leaflet. - Nigel Hawthorne, for Health Promotion England.