Peter Mullen

If the BBC is “a lefty department of propaganda” then I’m a Dutchman, which in turn would presumably be very irritating to Mr Mullen, as he clearly dislikes all things foreign, from continental breakfasts to the EU.

May I correct two of Mr Mullen’s assertions?

First, the independent House of Commons library estimates that approximately 15 per cent of our laws originate in Brussels, which means 85 per cent of them originate in London at Westminster, hence we are indeed governed by “the Queen’s ministers in our democratically elected parliament”.

Brussels does not govern us.

Secondly, as regards the old anti-European chestnut of the unsigned annual EU accounts: 80 per cent of EU funds are spent via member governments who, in turn, are asked to account back to Brussels as to how they have spent the money. As the Brussels accounting standard is set very high it often results in member states, including the UK, failing to report to the required standard.

This is clearly not the same thing as corruption.

The European Court of Auditors did in fact sign off as accurate the EU’s accounts for 2012, as it has done each year since 2007.

Yes, the EU needs reforming and Labour will lead the campaign but meanwhile let’s rejoice in our democracy with its free press that enables Mr Mullen to voice his idiosyncratic views, for the Echo to print them and for me to be able disagree with them. Hurrah!

Paul Brannen, Labour Team Candidate, European Elections 2014.

ONCE again, Peter Mullen goes off on his usual rant displaying his right-of-Hitler tendencies (Echo, Mar 25).

The BBC is not inherently left wing. It offers good value for money. Imagine if we only had Sky – the cost would be higher and the content constantly interrupted by adverts. News would be censored to avoid upsetting sponsors. Political views would have to reflect the owners politics – see the Daily Mail.

As a retired teacher, I have seen the necessity of legally requiring parents to have their children educated. Has he not seen the truancy figures?

Tom Cooper, Durham City.

LOOKS like Peter Mullen had been in the bar all night when he wrote his latest column (Echo, Mar 25).

Does he live in the real world?

What does he think would happen to his cherished freedoms if we further undermine the BBC, which this Government seems to want to do?

The big boys like Sky with their large resources would move in and try to dominate the airwaves. Minority views would be pushed out, there would not be any objective reporting, and the cost to the viewer would go up.

They are in it to make money.

The BBC, for all its faults, does try to be fair, and allows time for all views, even rather eccentric ones like Mr Mullen’s.

David Taylor-Gooby, Peterlee.