STUART Hill (HAS, July 1) deserves a first-class degree in naivety for suggesting the Barnett Formula is anything but hard-nosed politics.

Being a working-class Tory in a Labour-dominated region means researching the facts before opening your mouth.

Can I suggest Mr Hill and his ilk simply find access to a computer with the Internet and enter Barnett Formula and press search?

You will be presented with many articles from individuals of all political persuasion and also reports from the House of Commons.

Mr Hill and far too many good, honest people obviously do not research subjects, which makes a local politician's life a very easy one.

A revised Barnett Formula would be nice, but will not solve our underlying problems. It is the region and our own mentality towards success which needs to change. We hold extreme prejudice towards anyone who dares to have wealth or wants to climb the ladder.

As for quotas of Labour MPs, if England had its own government you would have a Tory majority. Simple arithmetic, Labour depends on Scotland and Wales. - Jim Tague, Chairman, Conservative Party, Bishop Auckland.

PETER MULLEN

RACISM is a word coined to insult those opposing the views of others, who cannot justify their own illogical thinking.

In the horrors of the last war, we were accused by the Jews of being the cause of the holocaust, and now we are told we are the cause of the troubles and corruption of many in other parts of the world.

I do not believe Peter Mullen is racist nor is he naive enough to ignore the fact that there is injustice and intolerance in all parts of the globe.

There is injustice in this country on a grand scale and it has nothing to do with colour, creed or race, but has more to do with greed and ignorance.

Yes. We have a corrupt class system in this country, but we at the lower end of the social scale cannot be expected to be the patsy for those who look at life through their limited illogical thinking.

The human race is far from perfect and I think Peter Mullen describes it quite aptly. - John Young, Crook.

CT Riley (HAS, July 4) writes of Peter Mullen: "Perhaps he should ask himself how a rector with an Irish surname ended up in England."

Since the correspondent also has an Irish surname, the answer should be obvious.

History tells us that, during the occupation of Ireland, many Irish were dying of starvation and their conquerors offered them soup to drink if they would change their religion. Most refused, but some in desperation decided to change their religion.

Perhaps Peter Mullen's ancestors 'drank the soup'. Mine did not. - Daniel Malone, Peterlee.

THERE is growing concern over the writings of your columnist Peter Mullen.

Perhaps his weird views are a deliberate attempt to provoke controversy, though it does seem strange for a vicar to write about politics. What political experience does he have?

I happen to know that Mr Mullen is a Yorkshireman, perhaps he is unhappy now that he is domiciled in London. Maybe that is the reason for his melancholy.

Tell him to move back up North. He will be much happier. - G Davison, Hetton-le-Hole.

MARKET SQUARE

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with the move to give Darlington's outdoor market a more lively and exuberant atmosphere with some different stalls. For, at the moment, it appears like a chapel of rest, as dead as a dodo.

The market used to be full of people who used to enjoy listening and watching the stallholders giving their spiel when selling their various goods.

I think the council is to blame for the decline, with too many rules for the people who want to liven up the market.

So let's get back to when people enjoyed Darlington before you sink it forever. - F Wealand, Darlington.

SINGLE CURRENCY

IT is extremely worrying that Mr Bowman (HAS, July 2) actually believes that the sole purpose and effect of the European single currency is to avoid the costs of exchanging money when crossing borders.

Seemingly, the minor consequences associated with membership of the eurozone are of little or no concern and we should all relax.

No matter that every aspect of control over our economy will be given over to the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, a body totally unelected and unaccountable.

Don't worry that the Bank of England (or the Government) will no longer be able to set domestic interest rates to suit the needs of our economy.

Levels of taxation both direct (income tax) and eventually indirect (eg VAT) are set to be 'harmonised'. Again, those we elect will not be making any decisions.

Still, provided Mr and Mrs Average do not have the inconvenience of paying an exchange rate commission when they return from their fortnight in Majorca, what do trivia such as democracy, freedom and independence matter. Minor details. - Dave Pascoe, Press Officer, UK Independence Party, Teesside Branch.

EDUCATION

"KIDS will be kids" says Paul Willis (Echo, July 2) as he describes his adventures in "crowd control" supply teaching.

The question is, should being a kid equate with unruly behaviour, being cheeky and verbally abusive to a teacher and hurling back in the face of staff their best efforts to educate them?

The 1970s TV series, Please Sir, mentioned in your article, portrayed pupil behaviour that was shocking, but fictional, 30 years ago.

By today's standards, those pupils were well behaved! It is indeed time the Government rhetoric on bringing order to the classroom was turned into real action, before all our schools disintegrate into a shambles. - EA Moralee, Billingham.