Letters

PETER Mandelson and his Government supporters claim he did nothing wrong, so are we to presume that lying to save your own skin is part and parcel of being an MP in New Labour?

Jonathan Aitken was rightly jailed, if only lightly, for harbouring the same concept and I am left cynically wondering would Peter have paid the ultimate price if an election wasn't looming? - DR Harmby, Stockton.

FYLINGDALES

WITH reference to Stan Walinet's letter (HAS, Jan 23) asking us to protest against the upgrading of our early warning system at Fylingdales. He calls this nuclear proliferation.

If we were going to build silos for nuclear missiles there, I might be able to understand his argument.

In what way, Mr Walinets, can upgrading an early warning system be considered nuclear proliferation? As to the statement that it will draw nuclear targeting to the area, doesn't he know we are still targeted by 300 of Russia's 20,000 nuclear warheads and our airfields, military camps, nuclear power stations, oilfields, etc, are all targeted already?

As some of these are in Yorkshire, there is already an overkill potential in place and some of us, Mr Walinets, would prefer to have a little warning to find some cover from a nuclear airburst.

Why are you seeking to deny us this scant protection?

As for Star Wars, isn't it preferable that incoming nuclear missiles are exploded in space instead of on our cities? - Martin Brown, Darlington.

TONY BLAIR

A MAN is known by the company he keeps. Similarly, a politician should be known by the people that he depends on.

Once again Peter Mandelson, Tony Blair's closest political confidant, has resigned from office. Need I say more about Mr Blair's judgement? - Raymond M Kelly, Chester-le-Street.

GREAT BRITAIN

THIS nation once had respect for other nations when its heritage was of Christian beliefs.

Like every other nation, in the past we have had our share of wars. The reason why we have lost the respect of other nations is because this nation has turned its back on God.

If this nation will repent, God will visit us with revival power, not judgement.

Proverbs 14 verse 34 says: "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

God is calling this nation to come out of Europe as Europe will join the Apostate Church and will align with the Beast, the anti-Christ and the false prophet.

If only everyone would read the Book of Revelation they would be given the insight of everything that will happen in the future. - Thomas E Newton, Shildon.

RAILWAYS

THE value of a quality newspaper is its ability to see the bigger picture and, through its contacts and journalistic prowess, pass on to the society it serves all matters which affect and or are of relevance to it.

The best of these has abundant confidence to champion chosen causes, not in a fleeting, self-serving way, but to meaningful conclusion. In this respect, The Northern Echo has proven pedigree.

Readers will have noted the paper's Birthplace of the Railways theme throughout many recently published articles and now it continues to kiss the Sleeping Beauty, to awaken her into the world.

Recognition of vision is the one major stepping stone to a future which will outstrip the expectations of dedicated anoraks and the birthplace is one important aspect of it.

I am sure the paper's expressions of hope concerning the bigger picture will, in fact, translate into a commitment, dedicated to ensure a bloody-minded attitude towards ensuring it becomes permanently displayed.

Let us hope that we have, in the region, a quality of leadership up to the job. - Clive S Simons, Bishop Auckland.

ROCK 'N' ROLL

I AM currently compiling some information on the tour that American Rock 'n' Roll singers Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent appeared on during the early months of 1960.

They appeared in the North-East at the Stockton Globe and the Newcastle Empire in February and March of that year.

If there are any readers who saw these concerts, or have any memories they could share with me, I'd love to hear from them. - Trevor Turner, 29 Wheenside Place, Southfield Lea, Cramlington, Northumberland NE23 6PG.

STOCKTON RACECOURSE

A CORRECTION to Geordie Brown's letter (HAS, Jan 25). Stockton racecourse wasn't ever in Thornaby, North Yorkshire.

In the 19th Century, the line of the River Tees was altered, leaving Stockton racecourse isolated on the south side of the river, but still in County Durham. Thus, access by land was through North Yorkshire or by crossing directly over the river from County Durham on the northern side of the river. - E Woodley, Billingham.

FOXHUNTING

IT was a sly piece of writing on foxhunting in your editorial (Echo, Jan 18) when you stated The Northern Echo could offer no opinion on the subject, although the readers' attention was drawn to the fact that it was cruel, thereby implying cruel people participated in it.

The false scent was sniffed out when you stated you would never dare to judge whether Sunderland FC was better than Newcastle FC but, on turning to the sports pages, I saw Sunderland had been allotted the top two-thirds of a page and Newcastle the remainder.

There are many cruel things done in this country which could be avoided. We lock jewel thieves in prison. So if expensive jewels were not produced, the temptation to steal would be removed.

Cars emit dangerous gases into the lungs of infants in baby buggies when engines are revved at pedestrian crossings and traffic lights. So why not eliminate these and other vehicles?

The MPs who voted to ban foxhunting sent soldiers into areas containing depleted uranium and also allow aircraft to fly low over populated areas when landing at major airports. This all shows the debate was sheer hypocrisy. - Thomas Conlon, Kirk Merrington, Spennymoor.