Letters

PETER Mullen's crass and infantile comments (Echo, Sept 30) on the return of Doctor Who to BBC1 fail to make mention of the fact that, as well as Queer as Folk, the scriptwriter has also written a number of high quality television drama serials, including The Second Coming in which an ordinary man was revealed to be the son of god.

Did the Rev Mullen make any stupid comments about that when before it was aired? - Chris Orton, Ferryhill.

NEW LABOUR

IT seemed rather soon to start the pantomime season, but Tony Blair's well choreographed, but admittedly eloquent, party conference performance was worthy of any top billing.

Stooges in the crowd, clapping and smiling when they ought not to be, it was all rather marvellous. But can anyone now remember one word he uttered?

Of course, Tony Blair is a grand speaker, but so are the rest of Britain's stand-up comedians.

Strong on words, but soft on action, Mr Blair continues to try and prove Abraham Lincoln wrong with every speech.

It was intellectually dishonest and every taxpayer in Britain should have the sense to see through such bull and rhetoric.

What did it for me is the fact that he wishes to charge students top-up fees, for he believes putting the cost of education on general taxation is a vote loser and may impact Labour's election chances.

As for having no "reverse gear", how many would buy a car without one? It makes getting out of tight spots a shade difficult! - Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland Conservatives.

I HAVE always voted Labour, but now feel the parting of the ways with them has come. Their priorities are not those of the British people.

What are New Labour priorities?

A determination to drag us ever deeper into Europe; a policy of regionalisation that might work in a politically healthy society but in ours will only compound existing ills, a reprehensibly liberal attitude to crime and a politically correct fanaticism that entails certain things being shoved down our throats that most of us could well do without.

In stark contrast, our priorities are, I would say, public safety, especially of children and the elderly; the state of public services, especially health and transport; a clampdown on unrestricted immigration and protection of the countryside, including the welfare of country people.

The question then arises for the next election; if not Labour, who? - T Kelly, Crook.

EUROPE

JEREMY Middleton (HAS, Sept 30) regards the total contempt for democracy of this treacherous Government in imposing upon us an EU constitution as merely "idiotic".

Do we draw from these comments that if "radical amendments" are achieved then it is perfectly all right for Tony Blair and Co to consign our nation to the status of virtual serfdom, totally bereft of any powers of self-governance?

Is not the constitution in any form a violation of our sovereignty?

However sincere Mr Middleton's opposition to the EU constitution may be, the record of his party in bringing us to the brink of constitutional castration needs to be examined.

It was the Conservative Government of Edward Heath that in 1972 took Britain into the Common Market with the assurances that we were merely entering a "trading bloc" and that any surrender of sovereignty was "unthinkable".

Damage was further heaped upon us by Margaret Thatcher's signing of the Single European Act and John Major appending his approval to the Maastricht Treaty in 1992.

Until the Conservative Party publicly apologises for its significant contribution to the constitutional butchery it has inflicted on our nation it will remain as part of the problem, not the solution.

IDS has declared party policy to be that no matter what degradation, humiliation and ignominy the EU chooses to inflict upon us, at no time would he ever consider withdrawal. - Dave Pascoe, UK Independence Party.

LIBYA

SURPRISE, surprise. Colonel Gadaffi, after years of proclaiming Libya's innocence in the Lockerbie attack, has now admitted responsibility and not only that, but paid millions of pounds compensation. Why?

Could it be that he thinks he may be next after Iraq and could it also be that, as a military man, he does have weapons of mass destruction? - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

TERRORISM

IF Hugh Pender expressed some concern for the innocent victims of terrorism perpetrated by fanatics whose sole aim is to murder and maim completely innocent men, women and children, he may get some sympathy for his hopelessly one-sided views.

Whether one is for or against the war in Iraq, it is surely indisputable that the US and Great Britain try to avoid civilian casualties. It is indeed counter-productive for them to do so.

Dreadful accidents do happen, but they are accidents. No such concern by the terrorists whose sole aim is to slaughter the innocent.

The war in Iraq may be a dreadful mistake and I don't dispute that, but one must remember that the US is responding to a dreadful act of terrorism.

The war in Afghanistan was fully justified.

Is Mr Pender aware that the architect of the Bali bombing was trained in Afghanistan?

Iraq is a different matter. The world does not seem a safer place. - J Martin, Easington.