FOX HUNTING: THE Government has introduced a new Hunting Bill. As it stands, this bill will outlaw some forms of hunting with dogs - such as hare coursing and deer hunting - but fox hunting is likely to continue in certain areas.

The RSPCA believes this will allow thousands of animals to continue to suffer and is pushing for a total ban on all hunting with dogs. To achieve this, MPs must vote to amend the Bill - and we need the help of your readers.

Please write to your MP today urging them to vote for a complete ban at every opportunity - and remind them there can be no compromise on cruelty. You can write to your MP at House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. Alternatively, you can contact your MP via our Lobby Your MP page at http/www.rspca.org.uk/banhunting.

And while you are there please sign our online petition to help consign this cruel and barbaric activity to the history books where it belongs. - Alan Wolinski, Regional Manager, RSPCA, North Yorkshire and the North-East.

MODERN POLITICS

MICHAEL Heseltine might just as well have said (you saw him on TV, presumably) that the Conservatives actually deserve to be the pathetic opposition they clearly are.

And isn't far too much being made about Cherie Blair's manifest indiscretion? Very well, Cherie acted rather foolishly. And she said so on TV. Mind you, had the boot been on the other foot, so to speak, would not New Labour have tortured the PM's wife?

Enough hypocrisy is enough, that's for certain. Let's get back to the more serious stuff, the likes of education and the NHS. - Alfred H. Lister, Guisborough.

WITH house prices rising (marginally) faster than MPs' wages, ridiculous stamp duty charges, inheritance tax scams, pensions and savings in complete turmoil, council tax spiralling out of control, student top-up charges on the horizon, stealth taxes aplenty, manufacturing on its knees, unemployment being masked by demanding that kids stay on at school and university, the region, as per usual under Labour, being short-changed, who could blame "destitute" Cherie Blair for trying to save a few thousand pounds?

The only conman I can see resides in the same house as Mrs Blair.

Hail, our glorious leader, the Ronnie Biggs of parliament, the Uri Geller of truth, the one and only wait for it, ladies and gentlemen, I give you tonight, the very man who recreated hypocrisy and destroyed democracy. Let's hear it for your very own European President, your guitarist and singer tonight... Mr Tony Blair. - Jim Tague, Chairman, Conservative Party, Bishop Auckland Branch.

SPEED CAMERAS

I WAS amazed to read that the police have a website where the speed cameras which are in operation in the region are listed. I wonder if this service will be extended to burglars.

It would be very useful for burglars to read that all police resources will be concentrated on catching burglars in Stockton, allowing them to operate in Middlesbrough, without fear of apprehension.

As this is unlikely to occur, I am puzzled by the logic of the speed camera website. Is speeding a crime or not, in what the website simply suggests go somewhere else and speed since you will not be caught? - Eric Gendle, Middlesbrough.

MIDDLE EAST

HUGE Pender (Echo, Dec 7) points out the atrocities committed by Israel, making a slight reference to the suicide bombers. He should read his history on the intention of the Arabs.

In 1973, Egypt and Syria amassed over 2,000 tanks to the destroy Israel once and for all and but for the superiority of the Israeli soldier, who was totally outnumbered, we would have witnessed the total annihilation of Israel.

To suggest that the Palestinians are blameless is either being naive and ignoring what is the intention of the Palestinian authority. The Palestinians have the means to stop those whose fanaticism has no intention of a peaceful solution. They simply wish to destroy their Zionist neighbour once and for all and their cruelty and disregard is there for all to see.

As for the UN, its failure and anti-Zionist disposition has allowed a situation that could have been solved a long time ago. Obviously Mr Pender and Mr Winstanley would prefer the destruction of Israel, the only trouble is they would still have something else to blame us for. - John Young, Crook.

Spennymoor CENTRE

MAY I point out to Councillor Bill Waters (HAS, Dec 10), that I have communicated to the public through Hear All Sides since 1987, but unlike him, I do not resort to personal attacks.

I have received numerous complaints about the economic decline of Spennymoor Festival Walk Shopping Centre during recent years.

I have always argued that I don't want the Forum overloaded with councillors. Sedgefield Borough nominated two councillors as Forum reps from the Labour Group. I have attended one forum meeting and all of the shop centre meetings at Sedgefield Borough which keep members informed.

Prior to Kevin Thompson winning the Middlestone Ward for the Liberal Democrats, I have been the sole opposition member for Spennymoor. Therefore I have to target myself to achieve the best casework results for the public.

I often have to put casework before the attendance of meeting, where most decisions are already made by the Labour Group, prior to the meeting.

I welcome the fact that Spennymoor has been prioritised for regeneration funding because the 1960s style shops are outdated. - Councillor Ben Ord, Liberal Democrat, Spennymoor Ward.