Letters, Monday, June 29, 2009
Blame Labour for BNP's successes
AFTER Labour's drubbing in the European elections, this must sound as a stern warning to the main parties not to take voters for granted.
Labour has failed on every promise since being elected in 1997 and only have themselves to blame for the BNP's success, gaining two seats in the European Parliament.
I listened to Five Live radio while travelling back from the Oasis concert in Manchester on election night and all the main party spokespeople were saying that they will not be sitting in the same room as Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons.
Well I'm afraid they will have to if they want to remain as MEPs.
Britain's main parties seem to have a problem speaking about immigration for fear of being branded racists. Social housing seems to be another problem for the main parties.
Getting a house here in Sunderland is made difficult because of gentoo's criteria and excellent schemes.
These issues need to be addressed by the local authority or, in the next local elections, you could also be sitting next to a BNP councillor here in Sunderland.
Ian Leadbitter,
Independent,
Redhill Ward
Racist or not?
IN a recent letter, one John Martin of the BNP stated that I misrepresent the BNP as racist and proudly points out it has a number (a very low one I imagine) of Turkish and Jewish councillors.
He goes on to state that the BNP "has no problems with immigrants who have settled and integrated in the past". I note the BNP is careful not to specify which groups these are or what "integrated" means. Nor does he mention that when those "integrated" immigrants originally arrived here it was he and his ilk who led the fight against them.
He neglects to mention that as well as stopping immigration his party wants to create conditions where, equally unspecified, immigrants would return "home". I have no doubt the BNP could create such conditions.
Himmler once regretfully remarked that "Every German has his 'good Jew''' meaning that while people may be prejudiced against a group in particular they can always think of an exception at the personal level. Like Himmler, the BNP doesn't make exceptions. Elect them in order to expel a handful of Muslim fundamentalists and pretty soon it'll be all Muslims (Turks included), Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, Eastern Europeans and then who ?
He goes on to say the inclusion of a Polish Spitfire on the BNP leaflet was intentional. How pathetic – its inclusion was through sheer ignorance.
Does anyone think the BNP, if it had dared to show its face at the time, would have supported the resettlement of tens of thousands of exiled Poles here in the 1940s – irrespective of the service they rendered this country – any more than it does for far fewer Gurkhas today?
Tony Morrissey,
Sunderland
Political madness
IF the leader column of the Sunderland Echo is any guide, the election of two members of the British National Party to the European Parliament has shown to be cause and reason for the Editor of the Echo to blow a gasket.
No matter how apoplectic he may feel about it, the BNP is a legal political party and those who choose to vote for them have every right to do so.
If he doesn't understand why 52,700 in this region voted for those he describes as thugs and racists, perhaps he should leave his bunker more often and make an effort to find out what is going on in his own backyard.
Did he fail to notice that in the North East more than 90,000 of those who bothered to turn out to vote gave their support to UKIP with a further 10,000 supporting the Socialist Labour Party?
They are every bit as vociferous as the BNP in their condemnation of a Labour Government which has, for 12 years, failed in its duty to defend our borders against countless thousands of illegal immigrants and bogus asylum seekers.
The harmful result of this political madness is there for us all to observe but I doubt if it will ever impinge on the cosy world of our political elite or, indeed, on editors of newspapers.
R Metcalfe,
Warwick Drive,
East Herrington
GOSSIP
VULTURES with busy noise
Gabble with homespun gossip,
Discharge lies from bulging beaks,
Chilling spines of unwary victims.
With spirit low, prey is soulless,
Leaden heaviness prevails
As self worth is shattered
And refuge sought from crumpled life.
Vultures – tattle in full flow,
Lumpy as razored hills,
Their barbed tongues
Deadly as a cobra.
Killers of clarion,
Bellies gorged with rumour,
They linger with patience
For feeds from future gossip.
Scavengers broadcast
Remain unchecked in global wanton,
Deeds eternally misplaced
Through vultures with acid tongues.
Alex Branthwaite,
Friarsfield Close,
Chapelgarth,
Sunderland
Station upgrade just not good enough
WHAT exactly is going on at Sunderland Central Railway Station? An artist's impression of an internal makeover and a solitary escalator was unveiled for the public to view inside the main entrance a couple of years ago with a starting date of the latter part of 2008.
Almost a year later at platform level, apart from an "out of order" sign on the escalator for what seems an eternity, no work of any note has been done regarding the proposed superficial makeover. I have also noticed the aforementioned plans have been removed from their spot.
Bearing in mind the central rail station is the first impression travellers will have of this city, it is just plainly not good enough what Sunderland is being served up with by Network Rail and Nexus.
A relatively small amount of 6million is being spent on Sunderland's main rail station. But a Metro station in Newcastle (Haymarket) is having in excess of 20million lavished on it both internally and externally.
I understand the 6million for our station was for an internal revamp only with perhaps a lick of paint for the outside. It is yet another example of a Sunderland half measure and yet again, from the work, or lack of work we have witnessed so far, we are not even going to get that.
Who exactly is fighting Sunderland's case in this matter? Certainly not our elected Labour MPs, Mullin and Etherington and certainly not the Labour Council cabinet.
The whole station, from after the Nationwide Building Society to the main entrance, should be completely demolished at ground level. In its place a brand new, modern station should be built, fit for a 21st century city, with a light airy appearance pleasing to the eye, inside and outside, which will leave a favourable first impression on travellers and tourists of which the people of Sunderland can be rightly proud.
A sizeable bar/cafe, a newsagent open virtually all hours, a mini tourist information point, a florist and a two way escalator should make up its facilities along with an enlarged ticket information centre.
Maybe the existing council cabinet could dip into some of the reserves to contribute to such a worthwhile project, provided Network Rail and Nexus pay the majority of the cost.
If such bodies can find the money for a secondary Newcastle station then they can find the money for a primary Sunderland station.
The end result would be the removal of a city centre eyesore with Sunderland gaining a first class gateway which makes a statement about the place.
A Stephenson,
Sunderland First
Talk of old pubs
I WAS reminiscing the other day about how far Tarquin and I went back and I realized he used to caddy for me at his local, The Phoenix, down Chester Road and the memories came flooding back.
Tarquin was carrying my darts and beers over to the fireplace at the end of the bar after our team had just beaten The Star across the way but our thoughts were elsewhere ...
"I see the work is well on the way at the Market Square Tarquin."
"Aye kidda, wonder what we'll get?"
"Probably some sort of glorified arcade old chum", was my reply.
"Arcade! We've already got Palmer's Arcade."
"Then it shall have to go. Can't have competition you know and when we have all this glass and chrome people will look at the railway station and say it looks old-fashioned, let's have something modern to match and it will go'
"Whaaaaat! Even The Bricklayer's Arms?'
"Yes, afraid so and it won't stop there for they will notice that the new station is next to an old building that does not fit in now."
"You mean?"
"You have got it, the Town Hall will sadly disappear soon after. Terribly, terribly sad but that is what they call progress. The town centre will change for ever old chum and certainly not for the better I think."
"It's enough to drive you to drink marra."
"Enjoy the old pubs while you can Tarquin."
"Yer joking, aren't you?"
"Sorry my esteemed friend, The George and Dragon, The Lowther Arms, The Rose and Crown, The 'Long Bar', probably even The Neptune near the brewery, all will go and more because they don't fit in with our 'metropolitan' town centre."
"Wellll, I'm glad I live here outside of the town centre."
"I wish you hadn't said that old chum ..."
Csar Kazum,
Sunderland
Honouring veterans
THE new Minister of Veterans, Kevin Jones MP, from the Chester-le-Street area, wrote to all MPs at the beginning of this year requesting them to mark the first Armed Forces Day with some special events. With support and, apart from special flag-raising events which have taken place, in spite of personal expenses problems, which MP in the city has taken up the challenge?
Up to the date of this letter I can only find Sharon Hodgson MP who was having an event in Washington on Friday, June 26 and your mention of a major event in the DLI Museum this weekend.
A much bigger service and parade took place on Sunday, June 21. This was the Northern area Royal British Legion dedication of a new standard in Seaham Harbour at 11am, a first major event in that town. Held in glorious sunshine, this was an event as requested by the Veterans' Minister, Kevin Jones.
Bill Craddock,
Veteran,
Donvale Road,
Washington
DAVE and Kath Jacques would like to thank all family and friends who attended their Pearl Wedding celebration and gave very generous donations to the RNLI which totalled an amazing 400.
Special thanks go to Mary, Joyce, Lynne, Eddie and Janice who helped with the catering.
A big thank you to Jean, Maureen, Sarah, Paul, Alison, Steven, Barry and Nicki for helping with the bar and other duties. We would also like to thank Graham and Denise who travelled up from Nottingham and last, but definitely not least, Stan Smith – the photographs are excellent and will be a lasting memory. We apologise if we have missed anyone out for special thanks.
The generosity of North East folk never ceases to amaze and the RNLI were overjoyed with the amount donated.
K and D Jacques,
Newbold Avenue,
Monkwearmouth,
Sunderland
AM I the only one who has noticed that town councils are now mini-governments? The same questionable expenses etc., and no regard for taxpayers' money. Sunderland Council are now advertising jobs – 500,000 worth for senior managers, aka fat cats. The mind boggles!
A top performing council? Vaux site, ungenerated seafront, undredged port, money wasting plans – am I hearing right? And, to top it all, the recruitment for these jobs is to be handled in. The cash strapped taxpayers in Sunderland will have to pay for these non-jobs. Can we nip these plans in the bud?
M Matthews,
Aiskell Street,
Millfield,
Sunderland
ON a recent visit to Gateshead I noticed receptacles in public places for recycling paper, plastic and tins.
I haven't seen any in Sunderland.
J Watson,
Granville Street,
Sunderland
THE Directory of Mobile Phone numbers goes live this week. All numbers including those belonging to children will be open to cold calling and the general abuse that less scrupulous sales people subject us to. To remove your number go here. (You need your mobile phone with you to do this as they text you a code)http://www.118800.co.uk/removeme/remove-me.html
Tell all your friends – especially those with children who have mobile phones. I believe my mobile number is private and I should be able to chose who I give it to. None of us agreed to this when we signed our mobile phone contracts
Ian Flaws,
Sunderland
COULD any Sunderland Echo readers of the Letters Pages tell me where I can possibly get an electric shaver mended in this area?
Pensioner,
South Hylton,
Sunderland
I'M trying to trace information on Frances Sutherland, Born in Silver St. Murton in 1896, her Father was Thomas Sutherland, her Mother Jane Frances Sutherland (nee Anderson). I know that here in Sunderland a Frances Sutherland Married a Arthur Lewis in 1919 also a Frances Sutherland Married a John W. Boulton in 1923. Should any of the above connections fit into your family, I'd much appreciate it if you got in touch
Bill Sutherland,
Email: bill.sutherland2@ntlworld.com
Telephone: 0191 5281335
MY husband's grandparents came from Darlington and I believe he has cousins living in the Sunderland area. To further my research I am trying to contact them. His grandparents names were Joseph Moses and Isabella Iceton. Their children were Alice, Elizabeth, Enid Maud, Joseph, Isabella, Margaret and Clara. If you could publish this letter it may assist me in making contact with them.
Anne Clarke,
65 Laburnum Walk, Gilberdyke, East Yorks, HU15 2TU
Email: tamacleo123@aol.com
Telephone: 01430 449134
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Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
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