Thursday's Letters: Mansion Tax threatens tourism and heritage

As owners of 20 privately owned houses which open to the public in Yorkshire, we must put on record our extreme concern about the Mansion Tax which is proposed in the Liberal Democrat manifesto.

Countrywide, privately owned houses attract 14 million visitors a year and are popular venues because not only are they are lived in, often by the families who built them, but also because they host many popular

events, both charitable and fee paying, as well as providing venues for weddings and other activities.

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Furthermore they are a major attraction to the foreign visitor, they contribute greatly to local employment and they fulfil an educational and artistic role which is unique. The proposal of an initial annual tax of one per cent on houses valued at over 2m would endanger all of the above.

These houses struggle to survive owing to huge repair and maintenance costs; indeed a 2009 Historic Houses Association survey of their 1,500 members showed that the 140m being spent every year on maintenance is insufficient to keep up with the rising costs of repairs. As a result, the backlog of repairs has risen from 260m to 390m in six years.

The proposed tax would inevitably mean that much of our heritage in private hands would have to be sold, or allowed to fall into terminal disrepair. It is unlikely that new buyers would bother to open them. Certainly not only the collections of art, but also the wonderful

gardens which now form part of the attraction, would be irrevocably dispersed or lost to public view.

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In conclusion, far from raising easy tax from the super rich, the proposed Mansion Tax would hit hard those of us who struggle to maintain Britain's heritage.

From: George Winn-Darley, Aldby Park; Gerald Rolph, Allerton Park; Earl of Ronaldshay, Aske; Lady Cara Willoughby, Birdsall House; Richard Marriott, Boynton Hall; Nick Lane-Fox, Bramham Park; Clare and Simon Wood, Brockfield Hall; Roger Tempest, Broughton Hall; Simon Cunliffe-Lister, Burton Agnes Hall; Hon. Simon Howard, Castle Howard; Hon Jake Duncombe, Duncombe Park; Gaby Robertshaw, Farfield Hall; Chris Wooller, Low Fold Hall; Ian and Lady Deirdre Curteis, Markenfield Hall; Stuart Gill, Newby Hall; Sir Thomas Ingilby, Ripley Castle; Sir Charles Legard, Scampston Hall; Sir Tatton Sykes, Sledmere House; Hon William Hotham, South Dalton Hall; Sir Reginald Sheffield, Sutton Park.

It is vital for democracy to cast your vote

From: AG Clothier, Boroughbridge Road, Knaresborough.

MAY I through your columns appeal to your contributor Duncan Hamilton (Yorkshire Post, April 24) to revisit his father's wise words and all who may be so inclined.

Abstentions do nothing, as the Australians found out after years of alternating "tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum" governments. The politicians' remedy was to fine them for not voting; an outcome no-one wants in this country.

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As we have elected some less than honourable people of late to be our representatives at Westminster, I would appeal to everyone to examine your candidates closely and impress on them that they are our representatives and we expect them to consult us if they are elected, and express the local view regardless of party policy.

From: Michael J Smaldon, Layton Road, Horsforth, Leeds.

ONE can scarcely give credence to the article by Duncan Hamilton about "self-serving politicians", when his local MP for Shipley, Philip Davies, has consistently shown himself to be a man of principle and an MP of the highest integrity, not swayed by every popular or politically correct notion, and untainted by the expenses scandal.

Is not the character and commitment of such as Phil Davies just what

this country so desperately needs, or is the objection perhaps to everything moral and right? Mr Hamilton was correct, inasmuch as in

this case, his father would have been appalled with him.

From: Keith Henderson, Norton Conyers, Ripon.

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I READ the article by Duncan Hamilton and can readily identify with his frustrations with the current political system, which passes for something we are told is called "democracy".

Most politically engaged people also know that we go forward into the 21st century with a system which fails so abjectly to reflect the wishes and aspirations of voters.

The answer has to be proportional representation, which should give almost everyone who votes a voice in Government. However, until this comes about, as it surely will, Mr Hamilton could use his vote, as I will, and cast it for one of the minor parties, who do not stand convicted of all the fraud and excesses indulged in by the three main political parties.

From: Paul Stephenson, Cliffe Gardens, Shipley, West Yorkshire.

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DEALING with the crime problem is an important factor apropos of the forthcoming election. Much is being said about the different and recently altered methods of assessing over the last few years, suggesting there has been a reduction in overall crime. The fact

remains that crime is at an unacceptably high level.

In the 1950s, when I was a policeman in Bradford and when people reported everything (because they received an immediate response), the national yearly, overall crime totals were about half a million and violent crime about 10,000. Today, these totals are about five million, and several hundred thousand! The population has increased over this time by about a fifth, and police numbers have increased from about 65,000 to about 145,000 and are also better equipped.

Analysing why the big increase is complex. Emphasis on rights more than responsibilities, single parent families, uncontrolled immigration, poor school discipline and parental control, weak punishments from the courts, police not seen on the streets as they used to be, drug use, and inadequate enforcement of the laws etc, are some of the reasons.

However, while these reasons are debatable, it is irrefutable that there is still indeed a serious problem to be tackled.

From: JW Buckley, Aketon, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

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BILL Carmichael (Yorkshire Post, April 16) quotes Gordon Brown: "We are in the future business, and under my leadership we will always be in the future business." Can you discern any possible meaning, is the gauntlet thrown down by Bill Carmichael?

Yes, it has meaning, and is consistent with the record of New

Labour, "look to the future, keep your eye on the vision," "look at the bigger picture," etc. Like any illusionist, they keep you looking where they want you to look. The last thing they want is for you to look about you and see the mess they have created.

Bungling Brown has bankrupted our country

From: Geoff Sweeting, Station Road, Wressle, Selby.

I NOW understand why Gordon Brown was the worst Chancellor we have ever had and why he almost bankrupted our country. His brilliant economic brain tells him that he can make cost savings of one billion pounds, that's one thousand million pounds, out of a cost budget of 74m. This is what he told Nick Robinson on camera last week.

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Suddenly all his borrowing and spending makes sense! He had no idea that selling half of our gold reserves at the bottom of the market was a bad idea, despite his advisors telling him that it was. He had no idea that his robbing of our pension funds would lead to poorer pensions for everybody and the virtual demise of final salary schemes, except for him and his public sector cronies.

He had no idea that continual borrowing would lead to our debts getting larger. He did have an idea that the PFI initiative would take billions of pounds off the UK's balance sheet as one of his underhand dealings, but doesn't seem to realise that we still have to pay back the

excessive costs of this system.

And of course, he had no idea that he hadn't abolished boom and bust, we're bust ok!

We're now spending as much on servicing our debts as we do on the nation's defence. If David Cameron can't decimate Brown in the last debate about the economy, he doesn't deserve to be Prime Minister.

From: Dr SU Ruff, Gowland Court, Ogleforth, York.

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THE main political parties all seem to be unaware of the illogicality of their positions on the relationship between economic recovery and public expenditure. There are differences in nuance, but they all concentrate on maintaining a "grandmother and apple-pie" image.

In fact, what is required is a fierce programme of wealth creation – and wealth can only be created by making things and selling them to others: in other words by manufacture and trade. Paying the wages of doctors, nurses, policemen, teachers, civil servants and the rest does not create wealth. If containment of unemployment is the main

objective, conscription is a more cost-effective way.

Roosevelt's "New Deal" policies 90 years ago are, no doubt, at the back of politicians' minds. The important thing about that New Deal was that Roosevelt used borrowed money to undertake huge projects of creating and mending the infrastructure of the States – and not for paying the wages of public employees.

It was the creation of the reconstruction projects that reduced unemployment and made American industry competitive by the

consequential economies of scale.

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You have to have made your wealth before you can indulge in the luxury of employing servants.

Papal insult is beyond a joke

From: Mike Andrews, Cheviot Way, Upper Hopton.

IT is reported that the Oxford egghead responsible for the puerile rantings regarding the Papal visit has been assigned to other duties. Apparently, this counts as punishment in the Foreign Office (Yorkshire Post, April 26).

It is to be sincerely hoped, not least for this person's own sake, that these duties will have no connection whatsoever with any other faith groups.

Experience tells us that some of these other groups do not meekly tolerate attacks on their own beliefs and practices whether motivated by "humour" or not.

From: Len Fincham, Warrels Road, Bramley, Leeds.

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I MUST presume the arrogant twit, a member of the Foreign Office Civil Service who has insulted the Pope, leader of one of the world's great religions, has been moved to other employment, cleaning toilets. That is where he or she belongs. I am now suspicious of those who employed this character in a Government office. Are they of the same ilk?

I am not a Catholic but aware of the Vatican's sway over millions of Christians, and despair of some products from our universities, or perhaps it is the Student Union. They forget they are "servants" of the public who pay them and not some elite unimpeachable body.

The true cost of petrol

From: Alan Chapman, Beck Lane, Bingley.

I REPLACED my present car in July 2003, and found it cost me 39 to

fill the fuel tank with diesel. Now I have to spend 69 to fill up. Of course I am not unique; this applies equally to all drivers.

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What is very annoying, is knowing that the majority of this significant increase is caused by the Government adding fuel duty and VAT. Most of this is not spent on roads but goes in to the great pot of waste such as paying the wages and pensions of an extra million public sector employees that have appeared under Labour's creating jobs program since 1997.

I would call this buying votes.

Council votes to waste money

From: Stephen Swift, Westmorland Way, Sprotbrough, Doncaster.

WHAT a waste of money. Sprotbrough and Cusworth Parish Council is having an election for three councillors that will cost the taxpayer thousands when co-option will cost nothing.