Letters to the Editor

We hoped the poster would be seen as light-hearted, rather like an earlier poster when we parodied the sign at the Roebuck pub across the road.

The irony here is that we Christians are normally derided when we find something that mocks our beliefs offensive. "It's only a bit of fun", people say.

Some Christians protested about the Jerry Springer Opera on the BBC, because they were offended. Ms Wakeling says: "I don't believe that any group of people should be allowed to get away with making fun of another group of people with a different set of beliefs".

I wonder if she wrote to the BBC to complain on our behalf?

In the meantime, we will take the poster down before this letter is published so that we do not cause any further offence to anyone.

Nevertheless, the poster does reflect the Bible. Psalm 14 verse 1 begins: "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'." If Ms Wakeling would like to discuss this further I would welcome a meeting, or perhaps she (and anyone else who is interested) would like to join the next Alpha course at St Mark's.

Alpha is a simple non-threatening introduction to Christianity. You may have seen the posters!

Derek Walmsley

Vicar, St Mark's,

Utley

SIR - On April 9, the Rotary Club of Keighley ran its third Stroke Awareness Day, offering drop-in blood pressure tests in the Airedale Centre.

Some 225 people were tested and some areas of concern were identified and advice was given.

We would like to thank the medical professionals who volunteered to help, the Airedale Centre, Boots the Chemist, Micro Media, RAMedical and Dixon Target Printers for making this event possible.

We are also grateful to the people of Keighley who showed a real interest in learning more about their own health and the steps they can take to look after themselves.

SIDELLA MORTEN

Rotary Club of Keighley

SIR - Each Year the Lancs and Yorks Historical Society organise pilgrimages to the battle areas of the First World War. This year we will be visiting the France and Flanders areas. In September we plan to visit the battlefields of the Somme and the Ypres Salient, Arras, Vimy Ridge and Loos.

The trips specialise in visiting specific cemeteries or memorials, and an experienced guide will accompany each trip to commentate on the various battles and many historic events that occurred. We can also assist in the tracing of war graves and whenever possible we operate a grave or memorial photography service for those people who cannot travel.

The Historical Society was formed in 1990 by battlefield enthusiasts who have many years of practical experience in conducting visits to the battle areas of France and Flanders, and we actively support a variety of ex-service charities and institutions.

These trips are open to anyone who might be interested and we welcome all enquiries. Anyone who requires further information should write to: Pat Thomas, 7 Westgrove, Royston, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S71 4RY or telephone 01226 723860. We ask for a medium sizes SAE for postal replies.

PAT THOMAS

Lancs and Yorks

Historical Society

SIR - Mr Hamish Hay correctly endorses the record of Ann Cryer as an MP and her opposition to the Iraq war, but the suggestion that a Lib Dem candidate could be the official opposition raises questions.

The Lib Dems opposed the war until it started and then supported it on the pretext of backing "our boys", who are doing what? - fighting America's war. In doing so they missed a golden opportunity of standing up and being counted.

Further, their candidate in central London is opposing Ken Livingstone's progressive transport policies, which have proved beneficial and popular.

Again a Lib Dem government would take us into the European Union, which would be goodbye to democracy. A Lib Dem candidate does not bear comparison with Ann Cryer.

BERNARD WHITTAKER

Scott Lane West,

Riddlesden

SIR - It was sad to read Antony Silson's letter.

His attack on Karl Poulsen, Conservative candidate, was personal rather than a challenge to his policies, an example being referring to Mr Poulsen as third class.

We have also seen some letters attacking election candidates bordering on venomous, and then we read elsewhere in this newspaper of a campaign for Hope not Hate. At this moment there seems to be a lot of hate and very little hope, and it's not all coming from the BNP.

Mr Silson says vote for the benefit of everyone, I wonder if he has read on the front page of the same issue of the KN about yobs and doctors' surgeries? At the hospital where I am employed, we have had two violent attacks on theatre staff in the grounds going to or from their duties. Yes Mr Silson, believe it or not violent crime is well out of control after seven years of Labour rule, but no doubt more political correctness will make it all OK.

Yes Mr Silson, I will, as you say, vote for the benefit of everyone, for a party who will come down more than heavy on crime, a party who will restore discipline to schools, a party who will put Britain first and give decent pensions before benefits to asylum seekers. No Mr Silson, not Labour, Blair does not care.

R P BEALE

Higher Row,

Hainworth Shaw, Keighley

SIR - I was appalled to see Mrs Cryer admitting that she does indeed write to constituents, at taxpayers' expense, to invite them to coffee mornings. If it isn't against the rules then it should be.

I don't pay my taxes for MPs of whatever political party to invite people to coffee mornings. Mrs Cryer's excuse that this allows people to raise issues with her strikes me as very odd. If I had a problem I would much rather write or pick up the telephone rather than discussing it within earshot of a group of fellow citizens.

It seems to me as though Karl Poulsen has got this one right.

P FARRIMOND

Broomhill Grove, Keighley

SIR - I have long since ceased to wonder at the brass neck of the BNP, but the recent appearance of the BNP chairman at Halifax Police Station involving charges of racial hatred takes the biscuit.

It is reported in a national newspaper that following his visit to the station Nick Griffin led his cohorts in singing Jerusalem and a recital of the Lord's prayer.

I can only think that they sang and spoke them through rote. If any of them actually understood what they were saying they would tear up their party cards and have no more to do with the BNP.

On the other hand the founders and operators of the evil South African apartheid system purported to have a biblical justification for their deeds. I wait with eagerness Nick Griffin's scriptural justification of the BNP's distinctly unchristian policies and behaviour.

Trevor Lindley

Far Slack Farm

Back Lane

Stanbury

SIR - The Liberal Democrats have entered the General Election campaign in excellent shape. More and more people are looking to the Liberal Democrats to provide a real alternative to Labour and the Conservatives.

Britain is in so many ways a fortunate country and a good country to live in. But we can and must do better.

Just as the Lib Dems have done in Scotland, the Liberal Democrats would scrap student tuition fees and provide free personal care for the elderly and help with things like washing or feeding.

Lib Dems will give £100 more a month to all pensioners over 75, and provide 10,000 more police.

And there's more.The Lib Dem web site www.therealalternative.org lists ten pledges to the British people.

People feel badly let down by Labour. They're never going to regain the trust of the British people. Frankly, they don't deserve to. When you break your promises over tax increases and imposing student top up fees people don't forget.

Nor will people forgive the fact that Tony Blair lined up with George Bush and we were misled into the Iraq war.

It's time for something different. Liberal Democrats are the real alternative.

David Adams

Cragside Farm

Dick Lane, Cowling

Sir - Further to my colleague Cllr Kirby's comment on David Knights' unacceptable drivel of Friday April 1 -- at least the date was appropriate -- the fact that this slanted farrago of nonsense passed through the editor's hands rather than the shredder clears up the question of the editor's political leanings.

It is no good John Philip hiding behind the excuse that the event "also aimed to promote Labour's general election campaign" while being primarily "a charity event".

Since the centre has refused Cllr Angela Clarke, the local Town as well as District (Ward) Councillor, permission to hold surgeries for her constituents, it should have refused any political activity (or none). The purpose of Cllr Clarke's visit was precisely to establish that the "event" was not only primarily but totally political -- a blatant "Vote Labour, Vote Ann Cryer" stunt with the typically Blairite "Cool Britannia" embellishment of a popular luvvie.

As for Cllr Clarke's escort - since her windows have been smashed three times by thugs this seems to have been a sensible precaution. Has Cllr Philip had need to install protection on the scale now required by Cllr Clarke to protect his person or property from the BNP?

I look forward to Cllr Philip and to the editor of the KN disowning the conduct of the anti-BNP thugs who really are "outside extremists" -- but I won't be holding my breath.

Cllr James

Lewthwaite PhD

(BNP Parliamentary candidate for Bradford South)

SIR - Why is it that the BNP has to spoil every event that helps to bring a community together?

What was the point of turning up at the children's charity appeal when Liz Dawn was visiting? I was quite shocked that BNP members came and tried to talk to the star who came to raise money for children with disabilities.

The BNP should not be targeting events that raise cash for special needs children or for any other cause.

The children are innocent and should not have to tolerate people like BNP members at their events.

Ambreen Mirza,

Broadway Close,

Bradford

SIR - In his letter of last week, Eric Dawson makes great play of Ann Cryer's voting record in Parliament (96 per cent "Blair loyal").

This figure is completely misleading, since it takes no account of the relative importance of the issues of which she voted. The Guardian recently published a more realistic survey of the voting records of all MPs, based on five weighty issues.

In these, Ann Cryer (who rarely if ever missed a Commons vote) scored one "Yes," one "No" and three positive abstentions. Her "Yes" referred to the Hunting Ban (free vote) and her "No" to the Iraq War. This would give her a "Blair Loyalty" record of roughly 50 per cent -- possibly less, taking into account the importance of the Iraq War vote. This figure is a far cry from the 96 per cent noised around by the Tories!

He then gives us an account of the alleged dishonesty of Tony Blair regarding the Iraq War. But these were the very issues which were vigorously contested by Ann Cryer and others, at a time when the Tory Party remained largely silent! Finally, the suggestion that Ann Cryer should seek re-election as an Independent is ludicrous. Would he suggest that the many Tories who rebelled against Margaret Thatcher (Heseltine, Howe, Lawson, Britten, Patten, etc) should have crossed the floor of the House? Going further back into history, would he suggest that Winston Churchill -- the greatest "rebel" of them all -- should have left the Party to show his disapproval of Chamberlain's pre-war policy of appeasing Hitler?

HAMISH HAY

Craven Avenue, Silsden