South Cheshire Chronicle letters

Mar 10 2004 Daily Post

I CANNOT believe that Ann Winterton is still a Member of Parliament. The so-called joke she made about the tragedy in More-cambe Bay was so cruel and so offensive that her remaining in office is demeaning to the position of MP.

Can any of us even begin to imagine the terror and suffering that those poor people went through, thousands of miles away from home with no family or friends working for a pittance used and abused by those that brought them here, only to die by drowning in the cold and dark of the Irish Sea?

Mrs Winterton has of course made racial comments before. On that occasion she apologised and was given the benefit of the doubt.

Surely now though there can be no doubt? Even if she is finally pushed into an apology it will not only be too little too late, but it will also be worthless.

BARRY EVANSON Crewe

GIVEN the coverage in last week's Chronicle in respect of Lady Ann Winterton MP, and that lady having been Congleton representative in parliament for the last 20 years, it is not surprising given the dismal record of the Conservatives in losing the General Election in May 1997.

It seems MPs might feel rather more relaxed in opposition when making after dinner speeches.

Lady Winterton has done herself no service, nor her party, in making such a sick and uncomplimentary joke be it an e-mail or not.

Michael Howard, the Tory Leader was quite right, given that she would not apologise, in removing the Parliamentary Whip from her for all the distress that her speech caused.

MPs are well-paid. They can look forward to decent pensions whilst the remainder of the electorate may not.

JOHN E WILLETT Eastgate Road, Holmes Chapel

ONCE again Ann Winterton MP makes an excellent job of stating the case that she is unfit for public office, let alone playing a cheap comedienne.

She was dismissed from the shadow cabinet after a tasteless joke about a Pakistani, and has now compounded that with an even more embarrassing gaffe.

One racist joke might be crass. Two is plain bigotry.

Michael Howard recently went to Burnley to take on racists in the form of attacking the BNP.

He would be better starting nearer to home with the Tory party and its lunatic fringe, as typified by Ann Winterton.

KEITH HAINES Secretary, Congleton Constituency Labour Party

SO NOW we know. According to the statistics the Crewe population only has 3% immigrants within it, but already we have no-go areas in the town - with patriotic citizens of Crewe no longer being welcome in Walthall Street (Chronicle, front page, March 3).

This is a clear demonstration and warning that it is New Labour's open-door immigration policy which is causing tensions in the community, not the BNP, and those tensions are surely going to keep on rising.

Perhaps it is worth reminding those complainants that traditional British culture enshrines many rights, such as freedom of expression, travel, association and belief.

But the democratic principle also demands certain responsibilities, such as the duty to tolerate the views of others even if you disagree strongly with them.

Since there is no racism in our literature - just patriotic common sense - perhaps those who are complaining should adopt the British tradition of indulgence and humour rather than this unnecessary confrontation.

RALPH ELLIS BNP organiser

IF YOU are not already aware, you will be horrified to find out that British horses and ponies could once again be exported live from the UK to face a long, uncertain journey to their death in Europe. We must act now to stop it.

A British law that has prevented our ponies from being exported alive for slaughter for over 67 years looks as though it could be lost, just because it isn't currently included in the proposal for a new EU regulation on the transport of animals.

I am supporting the ILPH (International League for the Protection of Horses), Say No to Live Exports Campaign to pressurise the Government and the European Parliament to stop the resumption of live traffic.

We must now write to our MPs so that they, in turn, can pressurise the Government to act to protect our horses and ponies.

If you have not supported the ILPH campaign before, but would like to do so now, please call 0870 366 6910 and leave your name and address on the recorded message. Alternatively go to www.ilph.org where you will be able to download a sample letter.

MISS S HOLDING Newfield Drive, Crewe

I AM very impressed with the concern and initiative taken by children in the Newall Avenue area of Sandbach.

They obviously worked hard over the half-term holiday in getting a large petition together, and presenting it to the Congleton Borough Council executive member, asking for replacement equipment for their play area.

This play area, after many years of neglect, is in a deplorable state. Fortunately, these much neglected areas all over Congleton Borough have now been recognised by the new administration as being in desperate need of upgrading, after having been inspected by the community select committee of Congleton Borough Council over the past few months.

Funds for improving these facilities are now in place in this year's budget.

It does sadden me somewhat that a town councillor living near this particular play area has allowed this to deteriorate to such an extent that all the equipment needs replacing.

CLLR PAMELA PRICE Dingle Meadow, Sandbach