I WAS surprised that Jonathan Arnott, the Ukip MEP, has pledged his support for improved public transport in the North East (HAS, 20 Oct).

All Ukip is interested in is privatisation of the public sector.

But, on second thoughts, this does make sense as Ukip has capitalised on people’s desperation, and with a lot of slick publicity have managed to paint itself as an alternative, as something different from the mainstream.

But behind the pints it’s the same old crew, with an added nasty racist twist.

After all, Ukip is the party that thinks that the poor should pay the same rate of tax as the rich and also plans to privatise the NHS.

What Ukip is doing very well is to turn people’s anger and frustration with “austerity” and cuts onto migrants, Europe, people with HIV and AIDS…..anyone except the bankers, brokers and billionaires who caused the crisis in the first place.

J Hall, Sunderland