NEW LABOUR

THE Labour Party was born to champion the interests of the working man, seeking to ensure justifiable appreciation of his hire. A socialist party dedicated to a more fair and equal distribution of wealth, to each according to their needs, from each according to their ability, being their slogan.

Sadly, the party has been infiltrated by self-interested opportunists, preaching socialism while practising capitalism. The change of name from Labour Party to New Labour heralded a concealment of their true motives.

The present treatment of many of those who have been the life blood and backbone of the party throughout the wilderness years is an absolute disgrace.

I refer to the coal miners, especially those seeking compensation, suffering and dying daily, gasping for breath through lungs rendered inefficient as a consequence of this most hazardous of occupations. They don't want excuses or mealy-mouthed platitudes, they want justice and now. - AW Dunn, Spennymoor.

LANCET

YOU state that the Lancet inquiry into allegations of police corruption on Teesside has cost the taxpayers £7m. Wouldn't it be cheaper to bring in a private detective? - Jim Ross, Rowlands Gill.

NURSING

WE are very sympathetic to all the nurses who come to our country to work within the NHS or private sector, to the point when we gave temporary accommodation to two nurses from the Philippines.

In the two days they stayed with us, we discovered they had left families behind including a daughter of nine months. What commitment is this?

However, why is it that our NHS and private sector have to go abroad to find qualified nurses when there are UK nurses desperately trying to get back into the NHS?

My wife trained as a State Enrolled Nurse in 1982 and passed all of the exams. She then joined me in the armed forces in Germany and we started our family.

From her training, my wife has always found employment in the private sector, but has had several rejections from the NHS as she is a little behind in modern equipment use.

To convert to Registered General Nurse will cost approximately £1,000. In comparison to investing £6,000 in bringing foreign nurses over here, a saving of £5,000 per nurse which could be spent on providing more beds or further training, etc.

It annoys me to see taxpayers' money being frittered away like this and, at the same time, see the frustration on my wife's face after each rejection. -Alexander Nimmo, Bishop Auckland.

THE EURO

WE are a group of North-East business people and economists who are committed to membership of the EU and the Single Market but who regard replacing the pound with the euro as a threat to British prosperity.

This issue has nothing to do with party politics, and everything to do with creating the best economic climate for Britain.

People in the North-East have worked hard to build a modern and competitive economy. The UK has a stable business environment and the lowest unemployment for 25 years - almost half the level of the Eurozone.

The Chancellor's five economic tests have not been met and there is no prospect of a "clear and unambiguous" case for replacing the pound in this Parliament. Several recent studies support this view. Britain must retain the ability to set an independent economic policy so that it can deliver the right policy response to global economic developments. Giving up control of our economy by locking into the euro would be the quickest way to return to the boom and bust of the past. Once joined there would be no way back.

The best way to help the British economy would be to assess the five economic tests now and rule out membership of the euro for the foreseeable future.

At least then businesses would be able to plan for the medium term with the confidence that the Government does not intend to take risks with British jobs and prosperity. - John Elliott, Chairman Business for Sterling, Ebac Ltd; Les Bell, Chairman Bells Stores Ltd; Keith Cann Evans, Chairman Eric Hunter Grinder; Terry Chapman, MD Helmsman Ltd; Dr Barrie Craven, Economics Department, Newcastle Business School; Roy Dickson, Director Dicksons Van World; Peter Lowrie, MD Peter Lowrie & Co Ltd; Andrew McAlpine, Director Sir Robert McAlpine; Lilian Mains, MD Zodiac Training Ltd; Rodney Mann, MD Agma plc; Steve Maughan, Director Edge Consulting; Ron Mitten, MD Houghton International; John Newbould, Henry Newbould Ltd; Clive Rook, Director Rook Matthews Sayer; Nick Straker, Director Lycett Insurance Brokers; Robert Sutherland, Director Parkland Engineering Limited; Thomas Swan OBE, MD Thomas Swan & Co Ltd; Lord Vinson, Vice-President, Institute of Economic Affairs.