YP Letters: England must have its own parliament

EXPERTS at the London School of Economics, and also Manchester University, say that the gaps between the English north and London have widened (The Yorkshire Post, August 1).

The study found the two pulling further apart on traditional measures such as goods and services and employment. It also recorded gaps growing in education and health.

The findings come after 
the Government said that 
£1m is being invested in the Northern Powerhouse project each day.

Since 2010, London has been pulling away from English England on many economic indicators. London has 
seen improvements across the board.

London’s increasing wealth, however, is not reflected in general improvements.

The study concluded that economic growth cannot be relied upon to improve social outcomes.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance, in the meantime, has called on the Government to scrap the High- Speed 2 rail project (HS2) as a “wasteful vanity project” which should be scrapped as it is 
likely to be delayed and over budget.

It is also designed to suck English talent into London and away from English England.

HS3 across the North would bring greater benefit to the English North than HS2.

It would show commitment 
to the English if the construction of the HS2 project were to begin
in Newcastle rather than London.

The conditions of English England will not improve until the English have their own parliament and devolved government in Leeds.

One only has to look across the border to see how devolution and its own government has benefited Scotland.

From: Arthur Quarmby, Underhill, Holme.

ONLY if Yorkshire speaks with one voice shall we ever be able to get a fair deal out of Westminster.

We are more powerful than Scotland and have a slightly bigger population – but they get better treatment because they are unified.

Our cities jealously arguing with each other will be swept aside; ever heard of “divide and conquer?”

From: Wendy Cross, Beverley.

IT was good to see that you would make energy considerations a priority for the new Prime Minister (The Yorkshire Post, August 1). It was especially good to read what seemed to be your focus on renewable energy.

However, you go on to imply that communities need convincing that the very opposite method (fracking for shale gas) is safe. You state “this technology can be used safely”. It has never been proved to be safe. In many areas of the world, it is proving lethal and we must wake up to this fact.

From: David Collins, Scissett.

SO we now have major companies, like Lloyds Banking Group, using Brexit as an excuse for firing staff. Not because something has happened but because nothing has

happened. It occurs to me that companies are using this as an excuse for actions they already had in mind.

Instead of using changed circumstances as an opportunity, they pull up the corporate drawbridge and hide behind their massive salaries for comfort.

Shorts before empty pews

From: Keith Jowett, Woodland Rise, Silkstone Common, Barnsley.

IN deploring the increasing tendency of churchgoers to wear casual dress, I suspect your correspondent David Treacher is, like myself, of mature years (The Yorkshire Post, July 30).

These days about the only time I wear a tie is to attend Sunday worship and yes, amongst the younger members of the congregation, there does seem to be an increasing number dressed in shorts or other casual wear.

This may jar with my more conservative outlook, but I am forced to ask if God would prefer such attire rather than the alternative of these worshippers not attending at all. Is it not what we look like, but what our personal relationship with our God is like, that really matters?

Rural areas hit by police cuts

From: Peter Hyde, Driffield.

THERESA May, in her 
speech canvassing for the Prime Minister’s job, made much of the fact that she had beaten the mighty Police Federation.

She should also boast that rural crime has risen due to police cuts. The accident rate 
has risen, again owing to police cuts.

We are at risk of terrorist attack but there has been little increase in police numbers who will be called upon when the attacks happen.

Except on roads where speed cameras are in operation speeding offences are commonplace and any fine Saturday or Sunday the racing maniacs who call themselves motorcyclists race about our area with abandon.

No, Mrs May, I wouldn’t 
brag about degrading our rural safety.

Cycle of decline in our libraries

From: Matthew Smith, Endcliffe Vale Road, Sheffield.

IN Sheffield, there is a need for further action to develop a better neighbourhood plan for the Broomhill area. We need strong action to encourage more cycling, walking and use of public transport and libraries, not least for the benefit of people’s physical and mental health.

Interestingly there is a contrast between the decline in public transport and what is currently happening to the city’s library service, in that the transfer and outsourcing of both services has led to huge declines in usage of both.