WELL, well, well the lunatics have finally taken over the asylum. You could not make up a script like it.

Sharon Hodgson MP, our expenses champion, has been promoted by Gordon Brown to be the Government's North East Whip in charge of controlling and maintaining our local MPs' discipline and integrity. Sharon will show them the ropes all right, she has been a past master over the years!

Let me remind you what Sharon (mistakes have been made)Hodgson has so far coughed up to in the last year or so: claimed more than £160,000-worth of expenses and allowances, claimed more than £4,000 in house moving costs, bought a £600 camera abroad without paying tax, the camera by the way was required by her husband who just happens to be employed full-time by Sharon.

Sharon is well qualified to lead this bunch who have pilfered and profited at the taxpayers' expense for years. These MPs have no shame.
Someone please tell me what MPs do all day apart from lining their own pockets. They certainly do little help our communities.

It is not too late for Sharon and her colleagues to audition for this year's pantomime at the Sunderland Empire. We could all get in for free as they could claim for us taxpayers on their expense claims.

Your MP is right behind you! Oh no he's not!
Observer

Bring pride back
AS a 67-year-old I can sympathise with letter writer Mrs Mack.
On Tuesday I drove along the seafront to South Shields. A very pleasant drive to Whitburn, Marsden Grotto, South Shields. Everything looks great and welcoming. Everyone opening up for another hopefully busy day.
I drove back and decided to stop at Roker. I found a parking patch in what seemed like the base of a building.
Though pleasant, I tried remembering my youth here. The cafe up on the main road used to be a very homely cafe, now a room with tables and chairs, no atmosphere in these modern times.
Signs on the promenade saying "No dogs on beach May – Sept" but no-one to enforce this with a dog running in the sea. Novelty lifeguards with no-one swimming.
I used to use the paddling pool next to the toilets. Now it is a sand pit. Why? Miles of sandy beach ... and a sand pit.
We have miles of sea which can be dangerous, but nowhere safe for kids to paddle in safety and Seaburn's fair is gone.
At Roker I decided to use the toilets. A necessary but sad experience. Visitors won't like it.
Our twin resorts are now eyesores. Why build a town centre with an eyesore at one end?
When will our Sunderland pride be returning from its long holiday?
Old and Sad,
Hunwick

You've been warned
DON'T say you weren't warned.
You think you are badly done to now. Mortgage rates at a record low, saving up to £200 a month for some people.
A guaranteed income for everyone, rich, poor, single, married, single mums, free dental if you need it. Health treatment at new walk-in centres. Free bus travel anywhere in Britain.
Christmas bonuses, heating allowances, new boilers, draught-proofing, money for babies and you think you are badly done to.
Well, let Cameron and his Tory party in and it will be back to 20 per cent on your mortgage, rich getting richer, kids doing homework on used paper again, no Christmas bonus. So don't say you weren't warned.
Believe me, we have never had it so good. Cut this letter out and keep it and don't say you weren't warned.
W Connolly,
Friar Road,
Sunderland

Dropping to bits
I AM tired of reporting the house nearby, which is dropping to bits.
Guttering is falling off and it is dangerous in my opinion this could have hit someone including me before now. Many bits have fallen off already.
The gate has been completely kicked in, there are papers all over the place and yet it is not considered a danger by the Sunderland City Council, which the local member has confirmed! How ridiculous.
Well, now perhaps something might be done!
Disillusioned Resident,
Balfour Street,
Houghton
Lost £10 and £5
I AM writing this letter hoping it will be read by a gentleman and his wife who stopped me in the tunnel leading to The Bridges, on Monday June 8.
He asked me had I dropped any money. It took me some time to answer. I told him my purse was open. Two minutes later I realised a £10 note and £5 note was lost from my purse.
I had a stroke in November so it takes me a while to think.
Hope this person reads this letter. Thank you.
Mrs P Collins
Hendon,
Sunderland


Mackem is a word of recent origin
PETER the Peril is correct when he states that the noun Mackem is a word of recent origin.
I am an octogenarian who worked for years in the shipbuilding industry and never heard it used in those years.
It is an ugly word, commonly used as a term of abuse by Newcastle FC supporters towards Sunderland fans.
The definition that Mackem and Tackem relates to Wear-built ships going to the Tyne to be finished, is fanciful and contrived.
It would be interesting if any of your readers could provide real evidence that the word has any genuine historical relevance.
Old Doxfordian

Show me the way
IN 2004, when Sunderland were promoted under Mick McCarthy, the supporters of our great club sang a new terrace "hymn", entitled Show Me The Way To Aston Villa, to the tune of Tony Christie's hit Amarillo.
To cheer up our Black and White friends from up the road, I have made a few alterations and hereby submit the new version to be sung on the Tyne Bridge sometime in August.
Say good-bye to Aston Villa,
Man Utd, Sunderland and Wigan,
Say hello to the Coca-Cola
The Championship awaits for you.
Anthony Blacker,
Great Meadow Road,
Bradley Stoke,
Bristol

Breaking the law
ALAN Wright has obviously learned nothing from his previous negative experiences when trying to defend the indefensible. In this instance he attempts to minimise the actions of David Cameron who cycled the wrong way up a one way street, ignoring red traffic lights, while his gas guzzling limo was following behind.
Wrighty said it was just a silly stunt. The police called it dangerous and stupid. Wrighty doesn't seem to understand that this eccentric behaviour could make Cameron appear too unreliable (if elected) to have his finger on the nuclear button.
More worrying is the fact that Cameron was seen recently with his helmet on the handlebars while riding the bike.
Wrighty went on to criticise cuddly John Prescott. He said Prescott got on a train and off again at the next station. How he relates that to David Cameron cycling through red lights with no helmet on is beyond me.
Mr Wright should know that it wouldn't be the first time a cabinet minister has been removed from a train and taken by a fast car to attend urgent business.
Cameron's bicycle incidents break the law. As a professional politician himself does Mr Wright really feel he is showing a good example to his constituents and the public at large by supporting his party leader on this issue?
W Quinn,
Millfield

Good old Jet
JET Harris was the original bass player with the Shadows and is 70 later this year.
Backing Cliff Richard they had many early hits included Apache, FBI, and Wonderful Land. Later he left the group and teamed up with Shadows drummer Tony Meehan and scored even more hits.
Happy 70th birthday Jet Harris, a great rock 'n' roll bass player.
T Christie,
East Herrington,
Sunderland

WOULD someone please enlighten me why parents of young toddlers persist in leaving nappies in the changing cubicles in the Aquatic Centre when there are enough litter bins in which to deposit their offsprings' cast-offs.
It never fails to surprise me the amount of litter left in the changing rooms – receipts, coloured bands, goggles cartons, sweet papers, chewing gum, plastic bags, sandwiches – and more.
This is not a put-down of the staff at the centre. They have my utmost admiration dealing with some of the worst elements of Wearside.
Since under-16s were allowed in free of charge, the attendants are treated daily to a torrent of abuse.
Some of the youngsters' language would make Chubby Brown blush.
How the staff keep their hands ott them, I don't know.
But all of this was surpassed on Sunday, June 8, when I closed the changing cubicle door to find someone had spat on the back of the door.
What sort of upbringing have these morons had?
Clare Mont,
Roker

Hold an election
RE: MPs claiming expenses, this is one consequence of the move towards career politicians, a good number of whom are chancers without an original political thought in their heads.
The thing that amuses and irritates me in equal measure is their insistence the problem here lies in the existing rules.
There is actually little wrong in the rules, which are not dramatically different to the rules governing expense claims in most organisations. The real issue is their inability to distinguish between right and wrong.
It is unfortunate that all MPs are now tarred with the same brush, but the plain fact is they are, and a cleansing process has become essential. Parliament should be dissolved and a General Election called. They should be made to put their jobs on the line and convince the electorate they merit our trust and support.
Have local politicians
anything to fear from the
Freedom of Information Act? I don't think so.
SP Hanratty
Hylton Castle,
Sunderland

Hypocrites
LONELY Planet are hypocrites not putting Sunderland in their guide, because a few months ago they used a photograph of Seaburn beach (the one with Roker Pier in the background and the white lighthouse in the foreground), to advertise their monthly magazine in that other BBC publication Radio Times.
A Judson,
Eversley Crescent,
Sunderland



MY mother is anxious to make contact with her cousin, Ann Carr, who, we believe is still resident in Seaham Harbour. Ann's father, Geoff Carr owned a greengrocer's shop and later a printing business in the area. My mother believes that Ann worked as a doctor's receptionist for many years.
Geoffrey D Cossey,
Gainsborough,
Lincs DN21 4BL
Email: geoffreycossey@mac.com
Telephone: 01652 649321

I AM trying to trace the Kirtley family. They used to live on the Monkwearmouth north shore in the 1950/1960s and were connected with glassmaking. My grandmother was Mary Kirtley born January 1, 1889, died February 12, 1955. We used to visit when I was young and their daugther Mary stayed with us at Shiremoor. I'm trying to create a family tree and for this branch we have no details.
Please can anyone help? Thank you.
Derrick Kirtley L'Argent,
1, Pembroke Gardens,
High Howdon,
NE28 0DP
Email: derricklargent@blueyonder.co.uk
Telephone: 01912633168


HAVING seen the success of the bands at the stadium of light, why now don't we build our own arena so we can have a place to greet a new music era in Sunderland. Where would one build such a large arena? The Vaux site of course!
Algie,
Pennywell,
Sunderland

I WOULD like to thank Councillor Tracy Dixon, Duncan from South Shields Crematorium, also Carl from Whitburn Cemetery for doing their best to have memorandum plaques in memory of a loved one in Whitburn cemetery. It means so much to me if things get the go-ahead.
Mrs Richardson,
Whitburn

BIG thanks to Back on the Map's Peoples' Fund and those who voted for Sunderland Mind Art Group. The grant will be a huge help. The event was well organised and the catering was superb, especially the Indian buffet supplied by Naz.
Norma Gowland
Group Facilitator and her budding artists

AN irresponsible owner of an akita dog rides his bike miles ahead while the poor animal is left to wander behind off lead, albeit muzzled but wandering alone to follow sadly behind. He rides on ahead and last night the poor dog nearly got run over trying to follow him. Come on be responsible and give the dog the respect he needs, you selfish man
Responsible Dog Owner

WE thank Dr Sinha and Dr Lateo and the wonderful staff in the Dermatology Outpatients Department at the Royal Hospital for the excellent attention given to my husband after his recent operation and aftercare. Some people seem to complain about the care at Sunderland Royal Hospital but we would just like to express our heartfelt thanks for all the help given, both to my husband and myself.
MM,
Murton

WHILE I do not support the BNP with regard to their politics, I do defend their right to be heard. The people who would deny them this supposed freedom should take a long, hard look at themselves and ask what democracy actually is and not what they perceive it to be.
Ian Walton,
Sunderland