J HALL (HAS, Oct 23) makes so many inaccurate statements about Ukip that I hope through your columns to correct some of them.

Looking through our policies announced at our recent conference, I can’t find a single one that proposes privatisation of the public sector. We don’t think the poor should pay the same rate of tax as the rich. We propose no tax on the minimum wage, and a 35 per cent rate between £42,285 and £55,000 to ease people in the “squeezed middle”.

As for the usual “racist” taunt from our increasingly desperate opponents, Ukip specifically bans anyone from membership who has any previous links with the BNP and the odious English Defence League, to name but two proscribed organisations.

We welcome people from all backgrounds, white, black, straight, or gay, and have members from all communities in prominent positions in our party.

We oppose further PFI in our National Health Service, and locally are utterly opposed to the rundown of North Tees Hospital, and to the vanity hospital project at Wynyard, which will be difficult for many people to access.

We are the only party to pledge abolishing car parking fees at hospitals.

And we pledge to keep the NHS free at the point of delivery and time of need for all UK residents.

Thank you for the opportunity to correct some of the inaccuracies from previous correspondents.

Alastair Coe, Stockton