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Economic rules work in favour of EU states
From: John Murray, Moorside Road, Honley, Holmfirth. JONATHAN Arnott is at it again (Yorkshire Post, September 20), repeating the misconceptions about the European Union.
He quotes the old "curved bananas" misconception amongst others, but fails to recognise the many sensible regulations enabling us to hold our own in a multinational world.
In 1975, I voted Yes to stay in the EEC, and I'm not sorry that I did. I still feel British, English, Yorkshire, and happy with the situation. Of course a trading partnership was established, which of course could not work without regulations – what club exists without rules, and sanctions for those who break them?
If we were to get out – somehow – we would still, like Norway and Switzerland, have to abide by EU regulations if
we wished to do business with the other more sensible
states.
We would have to negotiate free trade agreements with every individual other state, instead of working co-operatively with the clout of 24 other like-minded nations. Norway has a "fax relationship" with the EU – the regulations without the consultation.
Perhaps it is because Jonathon Arnott is so young – under the age of 48 – that he doesn't realise that the situation before the EEC came into being was an unstable collection of nation states all out for their own interests, and occasionally going to war over them.
From: D Wright, Little Lane, Easingwold.
JAMES Bovington (Yorkshire Post, September 14), as usual, trots out the familiar bogus statistics to add legitimacy to his defence of the EU, but he fails to explain the underlying problem of central bureaucratic control from Brussels over the sovereignty and laws of the individual member states.
The latest in the saga of erosion of countries' abilities to run their own economics and legislation is the ruling by the European Union Commission to force the United Kingdom and other governments to impose criminal sanctions for "serious" breaches of key EU policies. How does James Bovington also explain away the latest fiasco of the Bra War/Chinese trade embargo?
Privatisation of NHS through the back door
From: Ms D Temple, Wetherby, North Yorkshire.
I AM curious about the Government's claim that there was no question of the NHS being privatised, even though NHS staff and buildings would be handed over to the private sector as part of new contracts.
At the same time Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, was quoted as saying that no NHS staff would be lost to the health service as a result of increased use of the private sector to help cut waiting lists further.
To me this sounds like the privatisation of our much-cherished NHS through the back door – the very thing that Patricia Hewitt and her colleagues repeatedly accused the Conservatives of carrying out.
Why is it that Ministers are no longer able to tell the truth? No doubt the Labour Party conference will be the same with a gimmick an hour to try and mask the lack of thinking that now exists within the Government.
Silence is golden
From: F Smith, Headingley, Leeds.
NEIL Kinnock would better serve the Labour Party if he stayed silent in future.
He said that it was vital that a party in government for a long time should "refresh themselves" but that, so far, Tony Blair's administration had been able to do that.
What utter nonsense. The fact remains that Blair's Government has become complacently arrogant.
You only have to look at its failure to tackle truancy (Yorkshire Post, September 22) to realise that it has become bankrupt of ideas. It has spent more than 1bn on cutting truancy, yet the figures show that school absenteeism has actually risen by a third since 1997.
It is people like Neil Kinnock, the former European Commissioner who has become detached from the real world because of all his lucrative EU handouts and the like, that give politics a bad name.
Kick stars into touch
From: S Briggs, Goole.
EX-PREMIERSHIP footballer Frank Sinclair was banned from driving for three years after admitting drink driving (Yorkshire Post, September 23).
He was also given a 2,000 fine and ordered to pay 43 court costs. Yet the former Chelsea and Leicester City defender is now captain at League One side Burnley, where he earns 4,000 a week.
What difference will these penalties make to a player who can afford a chauffeur out of his spare change? It is no punishment whatsoever.
It is time that the Government considered more suitable punishments for supposed role models who step out of line.
How about 1,000 hours of community service as a minimum? A bit of hard graft may make them think twice in future, especially if this was to coincide with match days.
I've just about had enough of those sports stars who make a mockery of our legal system. If ever there was a need for Government intervention, this is an example. I hope that others agree.
Penalties for footballers
From: Keith Thomas, Driffield.
IT is reported that supermodel Kate Moss's career is in tatters today as major fashion companies dump her following her addiction to cocaine.
One can only hope that sponsors of some of our more foul-mouthed footballers –Wayne Rooney comes to mind – follows the example that is being set in the Moss case.
Put your own house in order
From: N Porter, Halifax.
SHADOW Trade and Industry Secretary David Willetts says housing policies may be contributing to crime and anti-social behaviour by concentrating too many young people on some estates. He said the high proportion of young people on housing estates gave them something in common with unstable nation states.
Well, what does Mr Willetts propose to do?
After all, he is the politician whom they call "Two Brains" –and is supposedly the brains behind the Conservatives.
Ship the kids out to the villages if they break a quota limit? Move them to the Isle of Wight?
No wonder his party has been unceremoniously rejected at the past three General Elections.
Runners' misery at lack of water supplies
From: Liz Gething, Broadstone Cottages, Colden, Hebden Bridge.
I HAVE been amazed that the organisers of this year's Great North Run have not been challenged regarding their failure to provide sufficient water on the run where four competitors lost their lives (Yorkshire Post, September 19).
When I read Brendan Foster's claims that plenty of water was available on the course, I felt I had to do something to try to bring attention to the fact that this was not the case.
Last Sunday I completed my first Great North Run and my initial feeling of elation has changed to one of intense anger. Water should have been available at the start, but I walked past all the waiting runners as far as the bridge where the camera is mounted, and there was no water.
My friend and I rifled through discarded bottles until we found one with some water in and drank that, knowing that the first water station wasn't until 4.25 miles. It was already quite warm and we are both well aware of the dangers of dehydration, particularly in hot weather.
The water stations were to be at 4.25 miles, 5.75 miles, 8.5 miles, 10 miles, 11.5 miles and at both the start and finish. We passed the start at 11.10am and as I ran it got hotter and hotter. By the middle section of the race I could see many of the runners were suffering from the heat.
When I reached the water station at 8.5 miles, I couldn't believe my eyes. There was no one there. The water had run out. I could feel the panic rising inside me and could see other runners were feeling the same. I asked a boy who was squirting the crowd for a drink from his bottle, only to end up spitting it out because he'd thoughtfully added washing up liquid to it.
I slowed right down knowing I had to get to mile 10 before I could get a drink. I felt scared as I could see people were dropping like flies and runners kept on having to move over to let ambulances through. I wondered then how much the lack of water at that water station was contributing to the suffering I was witnessing. If I ever run the Great North again, I hope I never have to see such awful scenes.
By the time I reached the water station at 10 miles my body felt as if it was on fire and I can say the race organisers definitely contributed to my discomfort on the day by failing to provide sufficient water. I am sure they contributed to the suffering of numerous other runners, too.
The heat did contribute to the high number of casualties during the race, but I believe the organisers contributed, too, by failing to provide enough water.
Market forces which give rise to controversy
From: Mrs M Hodgkiss, Racecommon Avenue, Penistone, Sheffield.
I ATTENDED a recent Barnsley Borough Council area forum meeting at the community centre in Penistone regarding the construction of a supermarket where the cattle market now stands.
For this to go forward, the residents of Penistone would see the demolition of the fire/ambulance station, loss of the recreation/show ground, disruption while a new road is being built and no more market buildings.
Many alternative suggestions were put forward because 99 per cent of the audience were not in favour of the council's proposals, but would like to see the market area developed back to the cattle market with the outdoor retail market updated.
Alternatively there could be no cattle market, with the whole area redesigned to incorporate the outdoor market and the buildings divided into shop units.
Both schemes, according to David Kennedy, chief executive of development at Barnsley Council, would require sponsorship.
It beggars belief where all the government rebates, grants, council tax and other miscellaneous revenue goes when the only input from the council it seems is granting planning permission for a supermarket that nobody in Penistone wants except the local councillors who fear losing 150,000 of grant money from English Heritage which would be allocated to tidy up derelict buildings.
Surely English Heritage would rather sponsor the development of the market which is Penistone's heritage, a thriving, bustling, busy market town?
English rise up in protest
From: N Chipman, Church Street, Driffield.
STEPHEN Gash hit the nail on the head (Letters, September 22) when he says the English are becoming increasingly fed up with being ruled by Scottish and Welsh MPs, especially when they now have their own parliaments.
Furthermore, the elected governments of Scotland and Wales are given increased funding from English taxes to provide free services and even lifesaving drugs, which are denied to people in England by the very same people.
It is a form of apartheid that the minority rule the majority, using political and economic discrimination, to benefit the minority – and then have the cheek to call it democracy.
I have filled in the application online for the Campaign for an English Parliament. I, for one, am prepared to stand up and be counted with the rest of you.
I will remain a member until the Scottish Raj are forced to pack their bagpipes and slink off back to their own Parliament, where they can do England no more harm.
From: D Petch, Burdale Close, Driffield.
I AM increasingly bewildered why the subject of an English parliament is taboo in the national media. It is also noticeable that MPs who read the Yorkshire Post remain silent on this issue.
They were elected to represent our best interests, not for the indulgence of Scotland and Wales. They hide behind desks while our sick, elderly and young are treated appallingly.
English taxpayers subsidise free services for their neighbours while being denied access themselves, including lifesaving drugs and cancer screening.
All those who have access to the internet should immediately type in English Parliament and find out the true scale of what has been done to the people of this country, seemingly with the co-operation of our MPs.
The Government fight so hard against an English Parliament that one has to wonder why they are so afraid of losing control of this country – or maybe its simply English taxes they crave?
Need to be firm
From: John Riseley, Harcourt Drive, Harrogate.
ONE has to admire the resolution shown in the Basra prison rescue (Yorkshire Post, September 20).
We can debate the rights and wrongs of our presence, but those at the sharp end cannot afford to mess about or be messed about. It needs to be clear that, for as long or short a time as our soldiers remain, their manner will not be tentative, uncertain or apologetic.
Talking turkey
From: Aled Jones, Mount Crescent, Bridlington.
I SAW a documentary on battery farming the other day. It made me relieved that I'm not a turkey.
War crime
From: Phyllis Capstick, Hellifield, Skipton.
BY going to war, on a lie, in Iraq, have we, as it appears, replaced one bad regime with something far worse? Such as "All hell let loose".
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Friday 10 February 2012
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