Hear All Sides

PAY RISE

HAVING read and heard much about the pay increase that Tony Blair has awarded to himself because he believes he is entitled to it, do you think this is what our forefathers fought for?

Do you think that young men such as William Affleck who died on the SS Lusitania, or Pte Albert Bateman, 19, or the three other Sedgefield young men, who are remembered on the Thiepval memorial on the Somme, along with 72,000 others who have no known grave, ever imagined a sum of £50,000 in their lifetime, let alone for a year's work, fought and died for this form of democracy?

For the past three years, I have been trying to get the predominantly Labour Town Council of Sedgefield to re-paint the names on the war memorial, which are fading badly.

Do you think that Mr Blair will give some of his "hard-earned" cash, or request that the council actually use tax-payers' money for a decent cause, probably not!

Mr Blair says he has a vision for the future of this country. Well, he and his council cronies should also remember the past.- W Robinson, Sedgefield.

EUROPE

THE 21st Century is, among other things, the Age of International Socialism. Like any other forms of socialism, international socialism is a menace to permanent national prosperity.

Economic instability in Britain will never come to an end until, first, there has been a selective exclusion of foreign goods from British markets and a reduction of foreign imports; second, the Government has ensured that manufactured goods are, wherever possible, produced in British factories, employing British workers; third, the nation's industry, commerce, land and other assets have been taken out of the hands of greedy foreigners; fourth, there has been a nation-wide rejection of all the political pseudo-systems, including the European Union, which have created a hidden army of four million unemployed Britons.

The European Union is the biggest rip-off in British history. The £1.8m per hour net contribution Great Britain presently makes to this economic conspiracy will destroy society, of that there is no doubt. But, following a withdrawal from the EU, it could be used to find helpful economy-building projects at home.

We would be fools not to aim at greater national self-sufficiency while we still have a chance, and to work to restore Britain's family and trading ties with Australia, Canada and New Zealand. - A Lightfoot, Bridlington.

GENERAL ELECTION

REFLECTING on the election and the prospects of the country as a result, I was struck by the different reactions of William Hague, who had a gracious and statesmanlike speech in defeat when proffering his resignation, and John Prescott who was unable to show any grace or humility in victory.

Of course, this came as no surprise looking at his leader's "frailties". The man who will not send his child to an ordinary comprehensive, he crusaded his pledge to rid us of sleaze, has instead condoned it, has misled the populace on election issues, and has eroded democracy.

I suggest Britain will be going down the wrong path until people of all ages replace them with more respect and sincerity for their fellow countrymen. - JW Heslop, Gainford.

FOOT-AND-MOUTH

WE operate a small business in Wensleydale, providing accommodation for visitors all year round. Foot-and-mouth disease has had a devastating effect on our income and that of other businesses dependent on visitors. We receive no compensation, are unable to access funds for the Relief of Rural Hardship, which are only available to farmers, and recent Government offers of assistance in North Yorkshire, although welcome, are totally inadequate. Our only hope of survival is to help ourselves and the key to starting this process is the reopening of footpaths.

With this object in view, I would ask all interested parties to lobby parish, district and county councillors, MPs and the Prime Minister to implement the Maff guidelines issued on May 23, 2001. If North Yorkshire County Council operated to these criteria, many of our footpaths could be opened immediately and we could begin to rebuild a countryside truly open for business. - P and M Hague, Worton, Leyburn.

THE EURO

YOUR leader (Echo, June 11) was a classic example of George Orwell's doublethink.

We are told that 80 per cent of the British people are jingoistic and xenophobic because they don't want the euro.

What you mean is that they love their country and are patriots and don't want to be ruled from Brussels.

You mention the Conservatives have a euro-sceptic majority and it will be a hindrance to Kenneth Clarke and Michael Heseltine.

How many euro-sceptics are there in the New Labour Party? Not one. Wouldn't you think at least one would be against going into Europe? I mean, they are supposed to represent the people. Not one out of 451! - Jim Ross, Rowlands Gill.

SMOKING

YOUR correspondent on smoking (HAS, June 9) is making a simplification for the sake of effect. He asserts that smokers are giving non-smokers cancer and that they have no right to smoke or inflict their addiction on others.

While smoking causes immense harm on those that smoke, passive smoking is more of a nuisance than a real threat.

The damage to unborn children may be a firmer assessment and is a good reason to ban the habit.

But, if the correspondent drives a car then the danger to people's health is a far greater threat than a few whiffs of a smoker's cigarette.

I have the choice, for the most part, of evading cigarette smoke. The same cannot be said for car and vehicle fumes or other more nauseating pollution.

I would suggest smoking is being made the scapegoat by the likes of the correspondent and is simply emotional prejudice based on ignorance. - John Young, Crook.