June 27, 2006

From the The Northern Echo, first published Tuesday 27th Jun 2006.

CUT THE LINKS: GIVEN the rise in English patriotism, and our re-adoption of the flag of St George, who now knows what the future holds for this great land?

The Scots and Welsh appear to be gearing up for independence, due to Labours calamitous devolution plan which has now backfired.

Loyal Ulster folk were sold down the river a decade ago by John Major, so there is now nothing much left of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the four nations to hold on to.

As a once proud Unionist I now feel the way forward for the English is to break away from Britain, Scotland, Wales, the European Union and the Commonwealth.

We could then drive on as a new and strong independent nation, all taxes and financial obligations to these other nations and corrupt organisations would be left in the past.

Money generated by the City of London, or currently being squandered on others, could be shared among the English, re-invigorating the northern cities instead of going to Scotland and Wales under outdated Barnett spending formulas.

It is time for us English to stand up and reclaim our land and leave British history behind.

Mark Anderson, Middleton St George.

SCOTTISH POLITICIANS

WHILE I agree with the sentiments expressed by Geoff Taylor (HAS, June 21) about the number of highly placed Scots people in government, I feel as though he missed one.

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, was born in Scotland.

If he is the ace in the pack in cards parlance would this make a royal flush? The joker in the pack was born in Wales, but represents a place in Humberside.

Barry Wood, Edmondsley, Co Durham.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

NORTH-EAST people want to know whats on the table before taking up any offers.

Last time round was a con, part of a plot to break up England and turn us into bits of Europe, but we saw through it.

Pity the Scots and Welsh didnt show the same insight.

Regional autonomy, yes; national disintegration, no.That said, it has to be acknowledged that national politicians have often used their powers to the detriment of this region.

There was the scourge of opencast mining, the destruction of all our heavy industry, the erosion of our public transport, etc.

Maybe if such decisions had been made regionally the interests of the region would have been paramount in the minds of the decision makers.

If so, some regional autonomy, with due public accountability, which the present system seems to lack, would be welcome.

Tony Kelly, Crook.

OILSEED RAPE

RE Joyce McDowells problems with oilseed rape (HAS, June 14). My son also has hay fever and this crop is his dread.

Last year, we were surrounded by yellow fields and one of three horses stabled at the back of our house became very ill with apparent asthma.

In early June last year I called a vet to give the mare an injection and was pessimistic of her being able to breed.

This year, although the yellow peril is not visible from our house, she again has been poorly wheezing, coughing throughout the night and her eyes red with swollen sinuses.

This mare was born in my stables and as I continually hose the yard to keep down all the dust, I decided to send her to my friends Arabian stallion to breed.

I know we will lose her anyway, she is 15, so I want part of her to survive.

The stallion lives near Redcar. Within two hours of arriving, my horses breathing became normal.

The following day her eyes were reported normal, with no swelling or redness.

We will possibly leave her at the seaside to foal and, hopefully, we will ourselves move away to an area where no rape is grown.

Chris Ramshaw, Bishop Auckland.

PENSIONERS

YOUR article about the amount of money some pensioners received in way of state retirement pension (Echo, June 22) stated that many exist on just 8.49 per day while also stating that the average pensioner income is 13,200 per year.

I can only assume that the researcher is lumping the pensions of retired MPs and local councillors in with the pensions received by the retired working population, many of whom worked all their lives for what New Labour calls a just return.

I come in the 38 per cent bracket (those who survive on less than 10,000) and my first payment on pension day is to give 47 per cent of what I receive to the council for taxes, rent and water rate.

This, as many pensioners will do, is followed by setting aside amounts for gas and electricity.

The rest goes on food and daily running costs.

It must also be remembered that Gordon Brown, the government money man, at the end of the financial year wants his cut back in the form of income tax.

What government gives out money with one hand and takes a percentage back with the other?

Peter Dolan, Newton Aycliffe.

ASYLUM SEEKERS

RE Pete Winstanleys suggestion that the strange insects which stung me were asylum seekers getting their own back for me always grumbling about them (HAS, June 22).

How childish.During years of writing to HAS, I think that I have had every right to moan about the asylum seekers who come to Great Britain, as we have hundreds of thousands of them here claiming benefit and not working.

These people have not contributed any money to our system, therefore they should not be allowed to claim any benefit from the state.

That way, more money would be made available to British pensioners and unemployed families who struggle to make ends meet.

I certainly know who I would like my taxes to support. Christopher Wardell, Darlington.IT was interesting to read Pete Winstanleys comparisons to strange insects from foreign lands and asylum seekers (HAS, June 22).

The difference to me is that only Christopher Wardell complains about being stung by insects.

Every taxpayer in the UK is being stung by so-called asylum seekers.

Kevin McStravick, Darlington.

JOBS WORRY

I WONDER if I am the only reader who is deeply concerned about the cuts being made in one of our most valuable services the fire brigade (the Cleveland brigade has plans to axe 60 frontline jobs).

If these cuts are really necessary, why not reduce the number of managers who, with all due respect to them, are not nearly as important as the front line officers who put out the fires and in doing so, risk their lives on a daily basis.

At the same time, we see councils up and down the country (and indeed the Government) recruiting non-productive staff at an alarming rate and commanding huge salaries 100,000-plus per year is not unusual for an executives salary and that would almost pay for four firemen for a year.

At the same time, we hear councils claiming they have no money to employ more, much-needed litter pickers, grass cutters, etc. We see litter bins overflowing. Why? Not enough staff.

A R Ferguson, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

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