YP Letters: Steel suffers after political failures

HOW apt is the article written by Bill Carmichael (The Yorkshire Post, April 1) and what it shows is the total hypocrisy of the Labour party and the Lib Dems.

I have not heard Jeremy Corbyn, Nick Clegg or Ed Miliband apologise for the imposition of these stupid regulations, but then why should they? These politicians never suffer from the fallout of their actions, only the people that they are supposed to represent are the sufferers.

From: Rhona Hartley, Shadwell Lane, Leeds.

ON this occasion, I think it would be right to nationalise Tata’s steel operations. Why? Because when China has demolished the competition, guess what? The price of their steel will rocket upwards.

Scrap HS2 and buy Tata out. Mind you, £10 should do the job since no-one would want to buy them out. Scrap the green taxes and the EU diktats, slap a huge tariff on dumped steel – as America does – and buy British for Britain.

From: Ged Dempsey, Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham.

IN the week of the massive impact on our steel, manufacturing industry and communities, and the Government’s continued attacks on the most vulnerable in our society, what a load of old tosh from the Tory posh boys and people of privilege on their website.

“Unlike Labour, we cannot rely on the unions to fund our campaigns. We need your support to help us stand up to Labour and to stand up for working people across our country. Donate £20 now to get your free mug and help us deliver for Britain.”

To believe that tripe, you would need to be a mug!

Bad for North and South

From: Alan Disbery, Sheffield.

IT has been announced that house prices in the South are twice that of those in the North. Am I surprised? Not really. What do you expect when the Government does the following:

Allows core northern industries to decline (e.g. steel) meaning that more people make the decision, or are forced to make the decision, to move South. Result: The generation of more demand for housing in the South, and less in the North.

Invests heavily in transport infrastructure in the South, making it more desirable for many firms to locate there. Result: The generation of more demand for housing in the South, and less in the North.

Removes public sector jobs from the North to the South (e.g. Department of Business, Innovation and Skills). Result: The generation of more demand for housing in the South, and less in the North

Enhances museums in the South (V&A) by denuding Northern museums (National Media Museum, Bradford). Result: The generation of more demand for housing in the South, and less in the North.

The thing is – and the Government just doesn’t seem to get this – is that such policies, when added together, are as bad for the South (overheating economy, wage inflation, unaffordable housing to those on modest incomes, chronic congestion, rapidly reducing green spaces) as they are for the North.

Or am I missing something?

Costs of BBC charity walk

From: Graham Branston, Emmott Drive, Rawdon.

I GIVE a lot to various charities, but there is so much fundraising these days that it can be off-putting. I take my hat off to Harry Gration and Paul Hudson from the BBC’s Look North for their recent three-legged three-county event in aid of Comic Relief.

However the promotional costs before, during and after the event must have been substantial and there was a considerable amount of air time for something that is hardly serious news. I asked Look North for the full cost i.e. pay for all involved, route graphics, overnight accommodation, and was told it was met from their budget and production costs are not made public.

Why not? The BBC should take a forensic look at its budgets and expenditure patterns at all levels.

Violence in name of God

From: Ken Cooke, Ilkley.

WHEN GP Taylor (The Yorkshire Post, March 30) was recounting the various phases of religiosity he had passed through, I was rather expecting him to reach the conclusion that his “belief” was a waste of space. He mentions the often violent consequences of holding to a religion and “how many wars have been fought in the name of God”.

He goes on to say “history is full of religiously-inspired atrocities” and “religious tribalism will only lead to more bloodshed”.

I am only surprised that he cannot conclude that it is not Gods that create beliefs, but people. This is the essential misconception.

People invent religions; they have nothing at all to do with Gods. After all, if two peoples – each with God on their side – go to war, surely one of the Gods must be wrong?

I, for one, would be very happy if violence in the name of religion ceased because religions had ceased.