February 11 Letters: Galloway was the victim of BBC ‘set-up’

I AM no supporter of George Galloway and deplore his politics, but for the BBC to invite him to join the panel on Question Time last Thursday, fully knowing that a question on the current issue of anti-Semitism within the UK would be raised and, deliberately amending the original question by adding a rider to suggest that he had a part to play in it, was an inexcusable “set-up”.

It was deliberately designed to create controversy, and inflame the discussion, in the way Jeremy Vine manages many subjects discussed on his daily programme; so much for the impartiality and credibility of the BBC who are proving to be no better than The Sun.

The person responsible for directing/editing the programme should be dismissed, together with David Dimbleby who should have been big enough to withstand such pressure; or did he do it off his own self-important back?

Ukip’s murky Euro vision

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.

UKIP are happy to say that any spending commitments will be paid for by the money that will be saved by coming out of the European Union.

This begs two questions. Firstly, what will happen prior to the run-up to withdrawal? It can’t happen overnight, so how will this affect the party’s financial plans?

Secondly, I presume that Ukip will be having a referendum on whether we stay in the EU or not. A vote, however, could mean people deciding to stick with the EU, as happened in 1975 when it was just a Common Market. So what would Ukip do then?

Really, Ukip is just a one-trick pony, unsuited to have representatives at both council and parliamentary level when you need candidates with policies affecting all major issues.

Parties lack the X factor

From: David Collins, Scissett, Huddersfield.

I HAVE throughout my life endeavoured to vote at all elections. Except one where I was asked to vote for people I didn’t know for an unnecessary job (police commissioner). But now I am stumped. We have three major parties who look alike, sound alike and act alike.

All parties are concentrating on immigration and the EU because it costs nothing, people believe all they are told however erroneous, and it stops them having to deal with the economy. All parties know what we need from the economy and none of them have a policy to pay for it. It’s called taxation!

Other parties? A racist party with a very good veneer. An environmentalist party with a bunch of policies made up as they go along. Is there still a Monster Raving Lunatic Party? Maybe they are the ones in all of the above.

From: David F Chambers, Sladeburn Drive, Northallerton.

OUT of the confusion of promises, claims and spin that issues from the Palace of Westminster there recently emerged the word “transparency”. So at least somebody there understands what the voter is entitled to expect from those who will soon be standing for election.

Transparency means truthfulness, honesty and integrity, without which nothing a candidate may say can, or should, be relied on. Unfortunately it seems that most candidates feel it’s something they can’t afford.

From: Terry Duncan, Greame Road, Bridlington.

IS not David Cameron a minnow in the big pond of world leaders?

Milk flowed 
in wartime

From: Mr TI Earle, Hill Close, Brecks, Rotherham.

For the life of me, I cannot understand the dreadful state in which our country finds itself regarding the supply of milk.

From personal experience my father (the late George Inman Earle) left a mixed farm of approximately 100 acres in 1943 to go to a fully dairy farm of approximately 150 acres. As this was in the midst of the Second World War milk quotas had to be adhered to.

In the bad winter of 1947 snow fell first in the Newcastle area. It reached Whitby some hours later. A strong wind blew off the sea – large drifting resulted.

Father had to take our milk down to the processing dairy at the bottom of a long hill via other farmers’ fields.

The point I am making is that in time of war we had to be co-operative – why make a mockery of peacetime? The dictators of the large supermarkets (collectively) are too strong for British farmers (collectively). A supremo should be appointed, of Churchillian stature, in order to bang heads together. Or does the country want to revert to milk powder?

Pity Mr Verity

From: Dr Chris Daley, Moorland View, Harrogate.

IT is clear that Gary Verity is not a popular man with some and he has accepted the fact that his desire to bring the Tour de France to Yorkshire irritated those in high places (The Yorkshire Post, February 6). Can’t we move on from this now as we all know that any honour will have been completely devalued?