Monday's Letters: We face a future of debt and difficult choices

First, that our economic crisis was not of their making, rather caused by greedy bankers. This is a classic case of putting the cart before the horse. Second, that there is no limit to the public sector "investment", on borrowed money, which will rid us of all ills.

The latest round in this frightening re-write of history is the article by former Labour MP Chris Leslie (Yorkshire Post, January 21) where he recites a shopping list of wishes which all political parties would propose and pay for if they could. But they can't.

Thanks to the profligacy of Gordon Brown's chancellorship, starting with the borrowing binge of his 2000 Budget and continued subsequently, we are already borrowed to the hilt.

This country is already borrowing more in percentage terms than Greece, whose woes may even cause the demise of the euro if Germany does not bail them out. After Greece, which is the next "Club Med" country to follow in short order?

The UK led by Gordon Brown and advised by Chris Leslie would be far worse placed than Spain or Italy – unless, that is, that the need for borrowing restraint by this country is tacitly accepted by Gordon Brown but, like so many other things, cannot be admitted to until after the election. Alistair Darling seems well aware of the knife-edge danger of this approach – his boss does not.

It is only because the capital markets expect a change of government that the UK has not already suffered a downgrading of its debt and the catastrophic rise in borrowing-costs that that implies.

Clearly, the next few years are going to be years of restraint and difficult choices, with no magic wand available. All will have to pull together.

At such a time it is unfortunate that the likes of Mr Leslie have to resort to old-fashioned politics of envy and division with phrases such as "as long as wealthy elites exploit their privileged position at the expense of ordinary working families....".

No, sir. It cannot go on like this.

From: Simon Wood, Brockfield Hall, York.

Unexpected demands on our finances

From: JW Smith, Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire.

WE need more and better train services, more investment on roads, more and better flood defences, more bad weather protection services, more policemen on the beat, more teachers, more hospital services and more prison places.

This is just a sample from the list of demands made on Government; there are many more. Where, however, is the money to come from?

No Government has faced more or greater problems in a single term of office than the present one. Bombings in 2005, floods in 2006 and 2007, world financial crisis in 2008 and 2009 and the worst winter since 1981. A major demand in every single year.

I am not overlooking the war years, but then we had a coalition government, all the country pulling in the same direction and certainly no anti-Government press and media. It should also be remembered that only last year, 64 years after the war ended, we repaid the final instalment of the debt to the United States.

Much has been made of the banking industry bailout, but this money is recoverable, probably at a profit to the taxpayer. The same cannot be said for the hundreds of billions of pounds paid out in subsidies to private rail and bus companies whose shareholders are not penalised as a result.

I agree the finances are in a mess and will take time to recover, but bearing in mind all of the problems, I actually feel rather sorry for the present administration.

Archives of hospital life

From: Mark Davis, Hebden Road, Haworth.

I READ with interest, your article (Yorkshire Post, January 4) on how to uncover family history records.

I'm sure that your readers would be equally interested to know of the existence of www.highroydshospital.co.uk, www.stanleyroydhospital.co.uk, www.meanwoodparkhospital.co.uk all part of a growing family of digital archives that catalogue the history of mental ill health, learning disability and psychiatry from the 19th century to the present day.

Each website gives an insight into life in the hospitals for patients and staff alike, and features many first-hand accounts, extracts from the admission registers, case books and local family archives. The websites have been recognised as valuable educational resource by the National Archives, the British Library, Institute and many universities.

Between December 1890 and 1969, a total of 2,861 former patients of the Menston asylum, as it was formerly called, were buried in unmarked graves, sometimes three deep at the Buckle Lane Cemetery. For those seeking relatives, I have the complete list of all of the people buried at the cemetery. I can check any relative's name that is provided, please email me at [email protected] for this free service.

The Buckle Lane Cemetery Website can be accessed at www.bucklelane.co.uk

Underground solution

From: Raymond Shaw, Hullen Edge Road, Elland, West Yorkshire.

AS an individual who enjoys rail travel not least to view the passing scene, I note with horror our new trains are scheduled to travel up to 250 miles per hour.

I have difficulty taking in the passing view at half that speed. May I make the following suggestion:

Our future rail network should be underground, one line London to Birmingham, then a branch east and west to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Having successfully engineered a tunnel under the English Channel, this suggestion would be quite feasible. No planning applications for wayleave, a level track all the way.

Cabin service would have to improve from the present situation when each change in rail franchise results in a deteriorating standard, often at an increased charge.

Two further benefits; firstly a great boost to our present employment figures as well as a national air raid shelter, which heaven forbid, we will never need.

Grade expectation

From: Geoffrey F Bryant, Queen Street, Barton-on-Humber.

SURELY I cannot be alone in finding myself underwhelmed by the news that 98 per cent of the pupils at Ripon Grammar School reached the GCSE "expected benchmark".

Having selected its pupils on "the basis of ability", surely it would really be news if the school's results had not reached that standard.

Oh, and there's no disadvantage in having a cohort of parents who can demonstrate their support by pushing 1m into the school funds "in less than a year"; a clear indication of their beneficence once the grammar school, not the parents, had chosen to accept their child or children.

If only this country's far higher number of "unchosen" children were similarly advantaged.

The snow that spelled disaster for lonely pupils

From: Maureen Hunt, Woolley, near Wakefield.

MRS S Nugent's letter (Yorkshire Post, January 15) about her memories of the winter of 1947, when she was 13 and was offered free swimming in an unheated pool with her friend, was most entertaining.

It is evokes one poignant recollection of something which happened during that winter, the second worst of the last century, and certainly one of the snowiest. I was a year younger than Mrs Nugent and don't remember the snow itself, but what I do recall is the cancellation of our half-term weekend when we should have been allowed to stay with our parents. The main road to Scarborough from the west was impassable, totally blocked by snow. Now this might not seem like a disaster to most of you, but in those days children who went to boarding school spent eight months of the year away from their parents. There were only three half-term weekends each year. Communication was by a weekly letter. There were no mobile phones and, to my knowledge, no one was ever able to phone home.

During the war, our school was evacuated to the Lake District, as the building had been requisitioned by the Army. It felt very isolated and cut off to children, some as young as seven. When I see photos of child evacuees during the war, often looking so frightened

and forlorn, my heart goes out to them.

Young children are not very logical and do not possess adult intelligence. Many would not have understood why they were being sent away from their homes.

To those of you who may view boarding schools as places of privilege for those born with silver spoons in their mouths, I would say that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, but, had you scaled the fence, you may have found the grass full of thistles, brambles and stinging nettles.

Fortitude amid the destruction

From: Peter N Marks, Newlyn Road, Sheffield.

A WEEK on from the Haitian earthquake, the giant light blue machine and the United States gets into gear. Stores stockpiled, many troops on the ground, assessments being made.

But, as we see through the very many reports, "a very limited impact is being made". Is there just too much blue tape and not enough "land it, load it and dispense" going on? Is this too simplistic an answer?

My hearts and admiration goes out to a people who are showing tremendous fortitude and courage in the direst of circumstances.

Sand is not the solution

From: Stan Parker, Ramsey Road, Middlestown, Wakefield.

I REPLY to the letter from Janet E Brooks (Yorkshire Post, January 18) applauding the citizens of Scarborough for spreading sand from the beaches on to the pavements, advising other coastal areas to do the same. I bet they are all glad they didn't take her advice.

When the snow has gone, what happens to all the sand? The cost of clearing the blocked drains, the backflow of sewage etc is going to be enormous. It's not rocket science, it's common sense.

Thanks to my lifesavers

From: John Brosnan, St Ann's Drive, Leeds.

A BIG thank you to Mr A Mavor, vascular surgeon, and all his team who have been so professional and caring in recently saving my life. Thank you for the care received from doctors, nurses and dinner ladies – nothing was too much trouble for them. They always had a smile and a little joke that kept my spirits up. They will always be in my prayers and those of my wife Noreen.

Thank you Ward 15 at the Leeds General Infirmary.

Blair power

From: Arthur Quarmby, Holme, Holmfirth.

I HAD realised that Tony Blair had turned the office of Prime Minister into a dictatorship, but until reading Bernard Ingham (Yorkshire Post, January 20) I had not understood how he did it.

Ministers' authority was taken away, and so no opposition to the Prime Minister's will was possible.

Will the Conservatives return to democracy by restoring departmental autonomy and Cabinet government? Or will the powers of dictatorship be too strong for Cameron to resist?