Wednesday's Letters: We must grasp this opportunity to change our society

Not only is this historically incorrect, but it fails to understand the loathing of the people for that kind of politics. He should know that both the Prime Minister and his deputy owe their positions to the votes of their fellow members, to whom we owe a debt of gratitude for recognising, in the Conservative Party conference of 2005 and in the Lib Dem ballot box, instinctively that they, by grasping the opportunity offered by these young men, might achieve the ideals that we all seek.

Of course, the political commentators (who could be reduced by half without damage to any of us) are searching for stray remarks, which would set them off to the malcontents of yesterday, repeating their outdated views on Europe, or their commitment to proportional representation, when what the man in the street wants above all from the system is his own MP in his own constituency, which PR cannot provide.

The two parties will wish to retain their own identities at local level, passing their own resolutions as Labour Party conferences often did with their government refusing to implement them. But it is imperative that this tremendous opportunity to change our society for the better should not be derailed by those who revel in discord and dissent. For once, the clich that we are at the gates of history is right. We must not let it slip through our fingers.

From: Frank Pedley, Gisburn Road, Hellifield, Skipton.

From: David W Wright, Easingwold, North Yorkshire.

THE comments made by David Blunkett, Bernard Ingham and your correspondents in the Yorkshire Post of the past few days concerning the fiasco of the hung parliament and the outcome of an unholy alliance between the Conservatives and the Lib Dems, surely emphasises the seriousness and potential chaos of PR on our political scene.

The first past the post system works well, although minor parties will complain constantly as PR is the only way they can get elected. However, the stability of the country is paramount, particularly at this very critical stage in world economic crisis and we cannot afford to have unstable governments comprising of a mish-mash of different political groups who simply will not agree.

The alliance between David Cameron and Nick Clegg must surely raise concern and questions, particularly for the Conservative Party's supporters when it is widely acknowledged that the Lib Dems are more closely sympathetic to socialist ideals than the traditional Right-wing views of Conservatism.

Gordon Brown could not make a deal with Mr Clegg, so why should Mr Cameron find reasons to cosy up with him when over half of the most important policies do not coincide?

This can only be viewed as a desperate gamble by Mr Cameron to gain power which surely can only be a short-term measure and will end in tears and more uncertainty, with many loyal Tories questioning the integrity of Cameron and that of his party who must be considered as woolly-middle ground Conservatives.

One good reason to reject PR

From: Alan Chapman, Beck Lane, Bingley.

LIB Dem (nee Conservative) MEP Edward McMillan-Scott expounded the virtues of the proportional representation voting system (Yorkshire Post, May 11), claiming benefits and fairness for the electorate. Having spent so much time on the Continent, he must be fitted with blinkers that deter him from reality.

If electors in Yorkshire and Humberside needed a classic example of unjust representation and a patently good reason to reject PR, this misguided man is living proof among us.

In the European elections, last June, the Conservative Party in our region gained 24 per cent of the popular vote which entitled them to two seats from six allocated. The Lib Dems collected 13 per cent of that same vote providing them with one seat. Recently, this former Conservative MEP has switched political parties and joined the Lib Dems.

Thus, in our region, 24 per cent of the electorate are under represented, having only one Conservative MEP, while a smaller group of only 13 per cent are over represented having two Lib Dem MEPs. This is a travesty of electoral justice.

The UK voting system for the House of Commons is first past the post, so the electorate vote for an individual candidate, linked to a political party. It is accepted that the seat belongs to the individual winner for the life of that Parliament.

However, under the PR system, the electorate vote for a political party, not an individual candidate. Consequently, the regional seat belongs to the party. If any MEP died in office, the next losing candidate on that party's list would be elevated to the rank of MEP.

Thus the electorate continue to be represented in the same proportion and maintain the decision at the ballot box.

The Lib Dem party is only entitled to one MEP in Yorkshire and

Humberside. Therefore they should have to choose between Edward McMillan-Scott and Diana Wallis, their winning candidate who was selected from the top of their regional list.

The Conservative regional seat should be filled by the third

Conservative candidate on the regional list, Mrs Fleur Butler.

Hereward is a better tale

From: Charles Rushton, Pasture Close, Strensall, York.

OH dear, yet another version of that old saga, Robin Hood. being given the star treatment by the media (Yorkshire Post, May 14). What a shame that the film-makers seem to lack imagination to find equally stirring stories from our national history other than the well worn deeds of the lads of Sherwood.

They could have a look at a story written in Victorian times of a truly great figure from our past, a figure who strived to maintain our Saxon heritage against the Conqueror himself. I refer to Hereward, known as the Wake. A certain Charles Kingsley no less, chronicled his adventures in a wonderful book entitled simply Hereward the Wake. It beats Robin Hood into a cocked hat and would make a brilliant film, possibly starring such a hero as Sean Bean with no Americans or Australians please.

Readers can search out a copy, though I doubt our wonderful libraries have heard of C. Kingsley and his many stories. It is worth it, believe me.

Root causes of crime

From: Paul Stephenson, Cliffe Gardens, Shipley.

FOLLOWING letters listing some of the possible causes of crime generally, it is perhaps a good idea to try to be more specific, and identify the root causes.

One has only to watch the behaviour of some children in public places such as restaurants or supermarkets. Many, noisy and unruly, with little regard for others around, not being checked by their parents. A minority maybe, but a sizeable minority. "I want this and I want it now," and often getting it. Anything for a quiet life.

Maybe, before the '60s, the command "children should be seen and not heard" was too extreme, but now, the pendulum has swung too far the other way.

Then, when people were not as affluent, the crime figures were low. Children did as they were told. Now, many children don't seem to be children as they were then. These children of today are the parents of tomorrow. Presently, apart from widespread unruliness and disruption in many classes, some 17,000 teachers are assaulted annually.

Need one say more?

Cyclists need to learn that their place is on the road

From: Karl Sheridan, Selby Road, Holme on Spalding Moor, East Yorkshire.

A SMALL group of us sponsored by folk in our village set off on Sunday to walk the Humber Bridge both ways, an event organised by the

Macmillan Trust to raise money to support their good work.

It was a good morning and although a bit overcast everyone enjoyed it and there was shared camaraderie by everyone taking part, however many entrants were annoyed by the attitude of many of the cyclists that were using the walkway over the bridge.

In fairness, the majority were considerate and appreciated that not everyone was young or athletic enough to jump out of their way, however what annoyed me especially was the lack of bells fitted to many of their bikes and their belligerent attitude that they had the right of way to speed past people without any form of warning.

Unfortunately, a lady was very nearly involved in a collision with a cyclist who was in a group coming up from behind, and although a warning was shouted by another pedestrian as they skimmed past, she inadvertently turned and almost stepped into the path of the cyclist.

Cyclists forget their approach is invariable silent and can catch

people unawares – the sad thing is that these ignorant cyclists aren't children – they are adults dressed in all the right gear and obviously into their cycling hobby, but it's a pity they can't obey the law and fit bells as well as having a little consideration for others especially on an event like this.

I do wonder what this particular guy is like when he's behind the wheel of his car, does he treat road users the same way he treats pedestrians when he's on his own bike? The mind boggles.

From: Dennis Nicoll, Broadcroft Chase, Tingley, Wakefield.

JUST when are West Yorkshire Police going to do something about the increasing number of idiotic cyclists who break the law by riding on the pavement?

My wife and I are fed up of constantly having to move out of their way. While walking over Leeds Bridge on Sunday, we pointed out to a male cyclist that the pavement was for pedestrians and the road was for cyclists, he just swore an obscentiy at us.

One hundred yards further on there was a woman riding on the pavement and she was even wearing a helmet (no doubt to protect her if she fell off after hitting a pedestrian). This situation is getting beyond a joke and we need something doing now.

Crusade urged on shop music

From: Barry Foster, Manor Cottages, High Stakesby, Whitby.

NOW the election saga has ended, I wondered if anyone would care to join me in a crusade firstly to protect people's hearing, by this I mean ending the appalling practice of playing loud music in shops.

I recently had to endure my ears nearly being blown off; all I could do was to leave, and the shop lost a very good customer on that occasion.

Secondly, the infernal practice one has to endure when telephoning one of the public bodies if you are unfortunate enough not to have an extension number.

Oh for the days of long gone by when to be able to actually talk to someone was commonplace. Life goes on, but does it have to in this way?

Healing quality of moor moss

From: Arthur Quarmby, Underhill, Holme, West Yorkshire.

YOU report (Yorkshire Post, May 13) on a programme to re-seed some of the moors with sphagnum moss. I remember, as a small boy at the beginning of the war, gathering sphagnum moss with my Ranger aunt; it was wanted for the war effort and was to be used in wound dressings. I never knew why.

Perhaps it was its sponge-like ability to hold water, or perhaps it has some other antiseptic or medical properties?

Still on parade

From: Terry Morrell, Willerby, Hull.

CAN anyone please tell me why we still have troops in Germany 65 years after the Second World War and 20 years after the Berlin Wall came

down?

Can we afford such luxuries?