GENOA

TONY Blair's outburst at the Genoa summit about the rights of democratic leaders to meet wherever they please, and that democracy is stood on its head if the world's finest are cowed by thugs, seemed pretty straight forward. Violence cannot be allowed to rule.

But whose violence? It is now clear demonstrators weren't the only thugs, many were policemen so unquestioningly praised by the politicians.

"The police had a difficult job to do and did it," was Downing Street's reaction. You can't get smugger than that.

The demonstrators' heads were repeatedly banged against the walls, some were kicked senseless, women were threatened with rape by police baton and one carabinieri took delight in urinating over his victim.

Meanwhile, the summit leaders and their teams managed to down 6,000 bottles of wine and champagne, occupy 132 suites on a luxury liner - normal price £1,600 a night - scoff 132lbs of sea bass, 65lbs of peaches, the same of apricots, 90lbs of calamari and prawns and 110lbs of cake. The cost of this was £120m, double the health budget of Tanzania.

And all they achieved was to bung more money at the scourge of Aids, something that could have been managed with a phone call.

This isn't high statesmanship, it's self-important, self-indulging junketing. And it stands democracy on its head. - DT Murray, Coxhoe.

TONY BLAIR

THE PATHETIC sarcasm of your correspondent Joe Wellthorpe (HAS, July 28) regarding the Tories suggests nothing but prejudiced wishful thinking. It ignores the fact that the Government is simply a lighter shade of blue because that was the only way Tony Blair had of gaining power.

And for the Liberal Democrats, it is difficult to figure out what they represent, other than old Labour and its fixation to clobber those who would rather earn a dollar than expect someone else to earn it for them.

The problem with politicians is their failures to grasp the needs of the British people and the realities of how we can succeed as a successful prosperous nation which gives all its citizens an equal share, while working with other nations to make the world an better, safer place. - J Young, Crook.

I HOPE Joe Wellthorpe (HAS, July 28) has read the two excellent letters from S Smith and J Tague (HAS, Aug 2) about Tony Blair and his arrogance towards true British people who worked and fought for this once great country.

Miners, shipbuilders, service personnel and now farmers cannot get compensation dues owed to them under this Government, yet if any minority group wants anything the money is found.

The people who fought in two world wars and the conflicts after are forgotten, as are the workers who worked double shifts during those dark days with very little food or medical services.

Yet, after the election Mr Blair gives himself a £47,000 rise along with rises for his MPs. - J Piggford, Burnhope, Durham.

FOLLOWING the closure of the Royal Mail's customer care department in Darlington (Echo, Aug 1) doesn't this action perfectly illustrate what Tony and his cronies are up to - withdrawing facilities from us to save money. It is a disgrace. It is about time the people of this country - la fuel protests - got together and marched to Downing Street. - J Barron, Darlington.

TE CROOK (HAS, Aug 1) rubbishes the statement of J Pryce that the low turnout at the General Election was because no one had anything to complain about.

TE Crook tells us that the poor turnout was because the election result was a foregone conclusion. Exactly! Which means that TE Crook corroborates J Pryce's statement.

May I remind TE Crook that Tony Blair has not married this country to Europe, that was done many years ago by Tory Prime Minister Edward Heath. - J Scott, Easington.

Sedgefield

I READ with interest the letter from G Huntington of Shildon (Has, July 30) referring to the forthcoming Sedgefield Borough Council referendum on whether we should have an elected mayor.

First of all, can I say that the policy of the council has always been to involve the public as much as we can, allowing them to voice their opinions. As a council, we firmly believe that the best option would be an elected mayor and cabinet because this gives real power to the people who will decide through the ballot box who is to lead the council and the community it serves.

However, the council must first of all hold a referendum so the public can tell us if they want a mayor. We want the public to use their vote when the referendum takes place on October 18.

The cost of the referendum is about 50p per voter - a small price to pay for democracy and such an important decision. - Brian Stephens, Leader of Sedgefield Borough Council.