YOUR comment (Echo, Apr 6), suggests that Ray Mallon could be elected as mayor of Middlesbrough on the sentiment of his reputation. That is an issue the voters of Middlesbrough will have to decide.

There are many issues that leave a bad taste in the mouth of the ordinary individual concerning the failure of the politicians to live up to their promises.

Law and order, failure to deliver on the many problems faced each day, and what seems to suggest pay up and shut up.

One of the problems that I find with the media is their constant misuse of facts to assert their own argument and their own prejudices.

I do believe the majority of voters in Middlesbrough are not so dumb as to believe they will vote for Ray Mallon on the strength of his reputation. They will vote for Ray Mallon in the belief of his ability to do a good job for their town.

The pedigree of many politicians is questionable. I assume Ray Mallon's pedigree is a case of wait and see. - John Young, Crook.

SINGLE CURRENCY

IT now appears that there are a growing number of Labour MPs who are becoming disillusioned with the Government's stance on the single currency and who are now having the courage to make a stand which is representative of the views of the majority.

We will not be driven into economic and monetary union by stealth, lies and propaganda, and because they now know this the talk of a referendum on the euro has all but disappeared.

Now that the truth is being laid before the British public that the euro will also require centralised political control, the question then will be: "Who will then govern Britain?"

MEPs openly admit the EU has a democratic deficit and that fraud is a major problem. - Neil Herron, Martyrs Defence Fund, Sunderland.

ON the subject of the euro, I would like to ask all those in favour of joining, does it not worry you that two people who have great reservations, are namely Gordon Brown and Sir Eddie George? - GE Moffatt, Gosforth.

HEALTH SERVICE

WHEN I read that Britons lose 29 per cent of their total income to tax, second only to Germany, (Echo, Apr 11) it makes one wonder why the National Health Service isn't second to Germany's health service.

Perhaps Alan Milburn will commission one of his surveys to prove that it is. - CJ Weston, Darlington.

FOOTBALL

OVER the years, those of us who follow the beautiful game have accepted change, not always for the better, but always seemingly motivated by money.

I love football. I don't apologise for that, but the administrators at the Football League, Premiership and Football Association should not think they always know best.

The recent suggestion that Celtic and Rangers should be allowed to join the Premiership next season should be blocked at all costs. It is a decision based on the economics of Scottish football and nothing else.

Celtic and Rangers attract massive home crowds each week and have to share the proceeds with the smaller clubs in the Premiership. When the big two are playing away, the smaller club's home gate rockets, but of course the percentage Celtic and Rangers get from the gate doesn't even pay their wage bill.

The big two have looked south of the border and observed that even the struggling clubs in the top flight get double the attendance of their Scottish counterparts. So an application is made to join the English Premiership.

This, in my opinion, is wrong. This is the English Football League and if Celtic and Rangers want to join the top flight, they should do it exactly the same way other clubs do. They start at the bottom of the pyramid in the Third Division and work their way to the top via this system. - John Riddle, Hartlepool.

CEMETERY SECURITY

WITH reference to the neglect of East Cemetery, Darlington, (Echo, Apr 8), my concern has been the decline of the North Cemetery.

It appears both have been abandoned by the council. Security is a farce.

Only West Cemetery is locked at night.

Any complaints are met by the excuse "lack of resources". This from a council that raised tax by six times the rate of inflation. - Dennis Harrison, Darlington.

POLICE PENSIONS

ONCE again it is time for the new council tax bills to arrive, and once again the Government is warning people in private industry that in the future they will have to work more years to receive a reasonable pension.

In this year's rise, the police share has gone up by over 14 per cent and no talk of the police having to work more years. Most of them retire after 30 years, aged 50 to 51.

If this was a private pension, for every year before you were 65 you would lose four per cent at 60.

Just how long can all those people in public service expect pensioners and people on fixed income to bear the cost of public service pensions?

I think it is time for them to realise that, if they want big pensions, they are going to have to pay more for them, or work more years to pay for them.

I received a rise in my pension of £4.04 and my rent has gone up by £1.75 per week, the council tax by £2. I suppose I can squander the rest on myself.

I believe the police pensions now cost more than police on the beat. Correct me if I am wrong. - ND Harthill, Consett.