INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS: IS anyone else as fed up as I am of being preached at by the liberal elite because we in the West are supposedly so well off while the rest of the world goes in poverty and want?

The idea seems to be to induce in us collective guilt complex, but I don't think we have any reason to feel guilty. Blame for the poverty that undoubtedly does stalk the Third World rests not on us but on the rulers of the Third World, who siphon off most of its resources into their own pockets and those of their families and cronies.

As for us enjoying more wealth per capita than the Third World does, that's because we create more wealth, not because we take from others.

If we do owe those countries an apology it is because 40 or 50 years ago we pulled out of some of them long before they were ready, under pressure from the same left-wing elements that are lecturing us now.

Forty years ago South Africa was never out of the left-wing press. Ordinary black people there are far worse off now than they were then, but the left studiously ignore the place. - T Kelly, Crook.

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

IT would appear that Fiona Hall (HAS, Nov 6) is telling 80 per cent of the electorate that she knows best what we want and we are to be chided for having seen through the lies, spin and propaganda of the Yes campaign.

What unmitigated arrogance, what a bare-faced cheek. Let us hope everyone who voted No remembers this insult when this woman seeks re-election to her spiritual home in Brussels.

You just don't get it, do you Ms Hall? The people of the North-East did not deliver an emphatic No to the planned Balkanisation of England because they did not understand what was being offered - they did so because they understood exactly what was at stake.

We do not want our country dismembered into convenient regions to satisfy your ministers in Brussels. We do not want layers of useless politicians and bureaucrats milking our taxes. We want truly accountable democracy, both local and national. We want to be governed only by those we elect and can remove when they cease to carry out the wishes of the majority.

The contempt for true democracy is shown by the fact that even a response as emphatic as that delivered on November 4 is not to be taken as final. Instead, we are told that in seven years time we may be asked to try again. Strange then that had we voted Yes we would never be given a chance again to redress any dissatisfaction with the process.

In past correspondence I have asked questions which, as yet, remain unanswered.

How is it that supporters of devolution from central government are invariably also those in favour of surrendering our national governments to the EU?

If our national government has no power how can it devolve power?

The policies are totally contradictory. Perhaps Ms Hall could explain. - Dave Pascoe, Press Secretary, UKIP, Hartlepool Branch.

AS a retired resident of Darlington, who has not voted in a local or national election for nearly a decade, I voted No to the regional assembly.

My reason was that when the community charge was raised by nine per cent this year, Mr Milburn made no approach to Mr Prescott who could have capped this huge increase.

Perhaps Mr Milburn was too busy with his £30,000 per year part-time work or claiming his allowance and 57p per mile mileage claims to bother.

He and Mr Prescott should understand that this increase in community charge took almost all of the Government pension increase for this year.

National Government giveth, local government taketh away.

No more expensive talking shops are required. - J Parkes, Darlington.

PEOPLE are getting wiser in voting No for a regional assembly - an expensive project that would only boost the gravy train for many.

If we had a vote on getting value for money from MPs representing the public you would get another No vote. People want to voice their opinions instead of listening to the demands of authorities in charge. - N Tate, Darlington.

WHAT a lot of self-centred, arrogant people the Yes to regional assembly are.

Even now, when faced with the biggest upset and turnaround in referendum history, they still whinge, saying: "we couldn't get our message across". By saying this they are still treating the people of the North-East as they did throughout this campaign as ignorant yokels unable to understand politics.

Of course, the message got across: pay more council tax for overpaid part-time politicians and bureaucrats on a new gravy train called the regional assembly that has no real power to change the North-East while discarding grass roots politicians and local community representatives as worthless relics of a past era. This referendum is a victory for democracy, no longer does the Labour spin work.

North-East people now have a mind of there own and will not follow the Labour line irrespective of its message. - John Pickersgill, Bishop Auckland.

IRAQ

"I promise they will be home for Christmas." Does that arrogant statement by Mr Blair apply to the three Black Watch soldiers who were murdered in the Iraqi holocaustic hell?

How do Mr Bush and Mr Blair feel? Do they wish they had not opened such a Pandora's Box? I doubt it.

They and Geoff Hoon need reminding that soldiers are there to protect and organise - not to be murdered or used as cannon fodder or as political pawns in a vicious game.

Bring all our troops out of the insurgents' stronghold. Show some pity and common sense. - M Armstrong, Crook.

GEORGE W BUSH

I am not in the least surprised Bush won the election. My wife and I lived for several years in America and I think I know how they tick.

Let us not forget that, under Bush, the US government is bankrupt, unemployment is sky high and medical care for the poor is non-existent.

The simple truth is that the US is in the grip of right wing Christian fundamentalists and the rest of the world is suffering as a result.

A recent editorial in The Northern Echo said it would be nice if Bush would change his Middle East policies but held out little hope for any change.

Those who voted for Bush have signed the death warrant of many thousands more innocent people. Bush supporters, when asked about the deaths of so many Iraqis, let alone their own soldiers, said they did not care.

What will Mr Blair do to alleviate the worst excesses of the Bush regime? Precious little, I would imagine.

If Mr Blair wins the coming election, as he probably will, and if he still trots along hanging on to Bush's coat tails then he will be compelled to resign.

As a life-long Labour voter, I will never forgive Mr Blair for what he has done to our country and to the reputation of the party. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.