Government incompetence rivals Labour

THE political incompetence displayed by the current Government must surely rival even Gordon Brown’s tenure in office.

The announcement that William Hague is to head up a two-year study into how much influence the EU has had on our daily lives just about sums up the total disconnection of our Parliamentary elite.

As the EU in its current form may not exist by the end of the study period, I am happy to provide a quick summary which may save the trouble and expense, and which includes the following policy disasters – single currency; uncontrolled immigration; Common Fisheries Policy; Common Agricultural Policy; Euro MP expenses and ring-fenced non-taxable pensions; social policy impact on costs to industry.

The list is endless.

Add to this the decade of unaudited accounts and the clearly undemocratic format of the unelected EU Commission and I think this adds up to a lethal cocktail of daily influence, one which the British people could well do without.

Roll on the inevitable referendum, but then again what question(s) will be on the ballot paper?

Privatisation ignored lead

From: Kevin Morris, Union Road, Bradford.

A RECENT report on flooding recommends amongst other things an increase in water metering to stop the waste of water.

Sounds reasonable on the face of it, but in the UK, many, many homes still have water entering through lead pipes.

Prior to the privatisation of our water, the Yorkshire Water Authority had acknowledged the danger to health of those lead pipes and was drawing up plans to remove lead water pipes from all homes in the region.

In the meantime, home owners were advised that when drawing water for drinking, especially in the morning, taps should be allowed to run for a time so that dissolved lead collected in the pipes can be flushed away.

Needless to say, when our water was privatised, the new Yorkshire Water didn’t see any obligation to continue the work of the public Yorkshire Water Authority and carry out the removal of lead piping from homes. And this despite the fact that all water companies have been allowed by the regulator to charge over the rate of inflation for water since their inception.

Lead is a major health risk and is an important cause of neurological damage, especially, but not solely to children. A massive campaign over the health dangers of environmental lead ended up with its removal from petrol, yet lead in water supplies has been largely ignored since our water supplies have been privatised.

Serious questions should be asked about the advisability of metering in homes where water enters through lead piping where the advice is that drinking water should be allowed to run before it may be safely drunk.

Marray’s the name to call

From: Bob Heys, Bar Lane, Ripponden, Halifax.

ANDY Murray did Britain proud in reaching the final of the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Championship and forcing Roger Federer, probably the best ever player of the game, to an outstanding performance (even for him) in winning the event.

The accolade for the tournament’s top sportsman must however surely go to Yorkshire’s Jonny Marray, as Tom Richmond argued (Yorkshire Post, July 14).

Marray deserves credit for his action in drawing attention, at a crucial stage in the final of the men’s doubles, to the otherwise unnoticed fact that his racquet had touched the net during an apparently winning volley, thus necessitating a replay of the point, which in a closely contested match could have cost his partnership the title, and with it the proud record of being Wimbledon champions (not to mention the prize money) they now enjoy.

From: Brian Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

STEPHANIE Shield’s view of Andy Murray is harsh and unfair (Yorkshire Post, July 11). His “surly attitude and temperament” may not appear to be “a true sportsman’s attitude” but the Wimbledon Men’s Singles final was a credit to the sport.

Even sainted Roger Federer’s sullen demeanour on court is at odds with the grace and beauty of his game and his courteous handling of moronic interviewers. However, at the handshake, nay embrace, the mutual goodwill was manifest. A true sportsman always gives 100 per cent, plays honestly and respects his opponent: Murray can tick all those boxes. Significantly he is reported to be liked by other players.

A question of death or life

From: Bob Watson, Springfield Road, Baildon.

THE conviction of Hannah Bonser, 26, for the unprovoked murder of 13-year-old Casey Kearney, has rightly resulted in her being given a life sentence (Yorkshire Post, July 12).

However, we are then told that she must serve a minimum of 22 years, so it is possible that she could be released at 48 years of age, with a long life of freedom possibly still before her.

When the death penalty was abolished we were assured that, more often than not, life would mean life.

Unfortunately since then it has been continually watered down, and even life sentences in the teens of years are not now unusual.

No wonder so many of us despair at the so-called justice system, with proper justice never appearing to be suitably dispensed.