Influence of Lib Dems on coalition policy

From: David Crowther, Oakdale Crescent, Lindley.

I WAS faintly amused to read Alan Carcas’ letter (Yorkshire Post, March 28) in which he belittled the Liberal Democrats for their part in the coalition. He then rather spoiled this by attributing a major Lib Dem policy to George Osborne.

The raising of the lower tax band has been a well-documented key Liberal Democrat aim for several years. Fortunately, thanks to Nick Clegg’s persistence, Mr. Osborne became a late convert, espousing the cause just in time to take the credit in the budget.

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The Lib Dems also gained the “triple guarantee” for pensioners, ensuring that in future pensions would rise by a minimum of 2.5 per cent.

Couple these changes with the “Pupil Premium” – popular with all parties, which would assure poorer pupils of a fairer opportunity; the fixed term parliament, so that Prime Ministers could no longer go to the country at a whim, and you will see that the influence of the Lib Dems in government has not been insubstantial.

Aliens and natives

From: William Snowden, Butterbowl Gardens, Farnley Ring Road, Leeds.

A FEW words in defence of Ken Pickles (Yorkshire Post, March 13).

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Mr Pickles dared to venture that the Himalayan balsam is a “harmless” flower of “great beauty” and beloved by bees – which it is.

But this is to challenge the prevailing orthodoxy and doctrinaire approach of so-called conservationists. Several readers upbraided Mr Pickles: they condemned Himalayan balsam as an “invasive alien” which displaced “native” species, and served to erode river banks. A contentious claim.

I have lived opposite a Leeds Nature Area (LNA38) for over 50 years –- for which I used to be the local ranger. It is an important, species-rich (flora and fauna) unimproved grassland habitat, bisected by a beck – which has not been eroded.

Himalayan balsam stands alongside many other splendid, thriving and diverse species of flora from salad burnet and Devil’s-bit scabious.

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Nature evolves, sometimes dramatically, but often imperceptibly, creating “natives” out of aliens. That is her wondrous bounty.

Positive change for the NHS

From: Dr Paul Charlson, Westfield Park, Brough, East Yorkshire.

BOB Holland’s letter poses some interesting points (Yorkshire Post, March 29). However, as a Yorkshire GP who does have good understanding of the Health Bill I am not sure he is accurate.

Firstly, GPs will be in charge of commissioning. This means that they will be able to redesign services to improve them for patients.

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They will not be prevented from using a particular service unless they themselves feel that there are better alternatives which they will then have to commission instead.

There may be new services for some problems as hearing aids, physiotherapy etc developed under Any Qualified Provider and they will provide patients and GPs with greater choice.

I do not see how this will ignore rural patients, as both AQP and locally commissioned services are more likely to provide accessible services.

This Bill presents clinicians with a real chance to change things and provide a more sustainable service. There is still significant waste in the system together with out dated practice and huge variability in quality. Competition is just one tool to facilitate positive change and used wisely it is effective.

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Whether significant change is possible without an Act of Parliament is debatable.

From: George Appleby, Clifton, York.

OUR doctors are on the front line of the NHS, the lifeline of the nation. It is now their intention to fight the worst danger to public health at its source – the coalition Government.

The doctors intend putting up candidates against coalition members. Brilliant, and I am sure it will make David Cameron and Nick Clegg stop in their tracks. I would have no hesitation in giving doctor my vote.

Politicians as a whole are held in low esteem by ordinary people, whose health care would suffer most if their NHS Bill goes through.

Sentence was too harsh

From: David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Acomb, York.

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THERE are not enough prisons in the UK to take all the criminals who should be in them. The prisons we have are full and over crowded, so much so that many prisoners are let out very early, after serving a mere fraction of their sentence.

A 21-year-old biology student from Swansea University, Liam Stacey, was sentenced to 56 days in prison for posting racist comments about the Bolton Wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba on his Twitter page.

What he said was crude, rude, vile and offensive, said the judge, and this serves as a warning to all, that stupid, irresponsible wording on Twitter and similar sites is unacceptable. The judge was clearly playing to the gallery.

What this student did was wrong, inexcusable due to drink and/or high spirits, and deserved to be punished, but I think 56 days in prison was inappropriate. People have committed far worse crimes and got off with “a slapped wrist.”

Should he have been put in prison while paedophiles roam our streets? Surely a better solution could have been found?