29/04/06

At the heart of all UKIP policies is a belief in people power. Our manifesto suggests a referendum at either local or national level for any controversial issue. We believe in open international cooperation.

However, like others throughout Europe, we dislike the EU government because, putting its corrupt financial management aside, our elected MEP must be chosen by party alone, with no manifesto.

This is the democracy of the Middle Ages, little better than choosing which knight from a ruling family to work for. Even our three MEPs can only tinker with the decisions of their overlords in the EU Commission or Council of Ministers. EU grants are not "benefits" but our own taxes partly returned to us with spending instructions, demanding equal funding directly from ourselves.

So, when that road "improvement" manifests itself, but your school extension doesn't, this is why. Leaving would neither lose us trade nor cause war, but would return our democracy. The EU gives richly rewarded political career opportunities in its Regional, Brussels and Strasbourg sites, explaining its popularity with immoral politicians. - Charlotte Bull, UK Independence Party, Darlington.

SWALLOWS AND SPITFIRES

ON St George's Day last Sunday, I was sitting in my garden watching the spectacular aerobatics of the swallows which invariably return to England at this time, and I remembered Peter Mullen's story about the Spitfire, whose designer, RJ Mitchell, was inspired by watching birds in flight (Echo, Apr 18).

The Spitfire is certainly a beautiful aircraft, but, unlike the swallow, it is primarily a lethal weapon. Is it not a sad indictment of our species that we are at our most inventive when we are devising better ways to kill each other?

Consider thermobaric weapons, as used by the Russians in Grozny and the Americans in Falluja. According to the US Marine Corps Gazette, these weapons "can have the effect of a tactical nuclear weapon without the residual radiation".

When such indiscriminate weapons are used in cities, horrific civilian casualties are inevitable. Those close to the blast are crushed or burned to death, while those on the periphery can suffer "burns, broken bones... blindness... concussion... haemorrhages in the liver and spleen, rupture of the eardrums and displacement of the eyes from their sockets".

This is the reality of modern weapons technology - a vile perversion of human genius. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

MULLEN SO SENSIBLE

I READ Peter Mullen's article on pacifism and I thought it brilliant, as I do with much that he writes. Therefore, I do not understand the Rev John Stephenson's gripe (Echo, Apr 6) indicating that because Peter Mullen is not a pacifist his Christian standing is in doubt.

I would suggest that John Stephenson has a very mixed-up idea of Christianity. The Bible supports war throughout, and Christianity is not an anti-war religion. Peter Mullen then, is no less Christian because he is anti-pacifist, but is more Biblical because he is.

I look forward every Tuesday to reading Peter Mullen's column. It is normally so sensible and down-to-earth.

John Stephenson will be hard-pressed to present an argument in favour of pacifism from the Bible. However, on a personal basis, Christ does command that we love our enemies, and turn the other cheek; yet, regarding national defence, war must be an option and preferably, a last resort.

Pacifism is no more than a flight of fancy without real substance, and certainly not a command of the Lord. - C G Farquhar, Durham.

MORALLY REPUGNANT

I FIND your pro-Iraq war correspondent Christopher Wardell, of Darlington, just as morally repugnant as your weekly correspondent, Peter Mullen: neither of these men see anything wrong in thousands of Iraqi men, women and children being bombed, maimed and killed by the British and American invaders of Iraq, nor do either of them see fit to point out that Mr Blair took this country to war on the basis of a lie, namely that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction with which he could wipe us out in 45 minutes.

To their credit, approximately 130 Labour MPs stood against their leader, along with the bishops of the Church of England and Pope John Paul. I hope this was noticed by your reverend correspondent Mr Mullen, whose article slating pacifists as "morally corrupt" says more about Mr Mullen than it does about those he denigrates. - Rev John Stephenson, Sunderland.

BEWARE "COWBOYS"

WHILE my experience of "cowboys" has not been as traumatic as others it so easily could have been.

In one case it could have been fatal because baked bean tins stuck on tiles were placed on top of the chimney pots. In another case, a builder using the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) unlawfully in an advert, made a very poor job of a ceiling.

The FMB were no help to me as a customer since, of course, they are the "builder's friend". A complaint to trading standards here in Darlington was just as pointless since they "warned" the builder and did not prosecute and claim compensation for me.

I wanted some work done in my garden and picked a firm from a newspaper advertisement. You should see the bad workmanship and the mess they left.

Where traders do not use their own name, make sure to get their names and address and check their vehicle. Ask where they have worked before and check. If they can do your work tomorrow, beware. Get a personal recommendation. It is so easy to be pleased to get someone to do the work and be taken in. - John W Antill, Darlington.

PRESS FREEDOM

WE in the Liberal Party have to wonder what the future holds for individual freedom in this country when, not satisfied with piloting a string of Draconian and restrictive laws through Parliament, the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, attacks journalists for nothing more than having the temerity to disagree with him.

A Home Secretary telling journalists what sort of language they can and cannot use is the realisation of the worst sort of Orwellian nightmare.

Whether individuals agree or disagree with this Government's oppressive measures I hope all would agree that it is the right (and duty) of the Press to critically examine legislation.

Perhaps Mr Clarke agrees with Lenin, that freedom, or freedom of the Press at least, is "so precious it should be rationed". - Daniel Wood, Chair of the Policy Committee, The Liberal Party, Warrington, Cheshire.

PENSIONS WARNING

WHILE inflation is part of working lives, pension funds will not deliver what they are supposed to do.

I joined the fire service when it was denationalised in 1948. Pay for 24-hour shifts was £5 1s 0d a week and we all looked forward to our superannuation giving us a reasonable living standard of £3 a week in 30 years' time.

When everyone's pay is doubled, no-one is any better off, but savings and pension funds go down by 50 per cent in value. This is what has happened in the past and looks like happening in the future. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.