YP Letters: A question of honour over party donors

ANDREW Cook CBE defended the acceptance of a knighthood from David Cameron (The Yorkshire Post, August 9).

I agree wholeheartedly with him. He is the kind of person the UK needs for us to have a thriving economy. He runs a successful manufacturing company, whose output is exported to countries all over the world. These are the sort of people who should be recognised, irrespective of whether they donate to political parties or not. I am sure, as Mr Cook does, that they also contribute to several charities.

The letter also exposes weaknesses in the honours system and in the way the Press reports issues.

I don’t know the full details of what Mrs Cameron’s hairdresser may have done to warrant an award, but if that is only what she has done, then to give her an award is a disgrace when there are millions of volunteers who have helped charities for decades who are not recognised.

And the Press seizes on anything to criticise. Are bad news and sporting success the only things worthy of newspaper headlines?

From: Dave Roberts, Ontario Road, Scunthorpe.

REFERRING to the letter from Tory donor Andrew Cook (The Yorkshire Post, August 9), this letter is full of “I” which, I think, should disqualify him from a knighthood anyway. He should let those who know him, and his achievements, speak up for him.

From: Jonathan Buick, Stradbroke Road, Sheffield.

I AGREE with your columnist Tom Richmond (The Yorkshire Post, August 6). Andrew Cook had no business accepting a knighthood from David Cameron. He has lost a lot of respect for not choosing to decline a tainted honour.

Planners vs coffee giants

From: John Howe, Bedale.

WHILE I agree entirely with Elaine Fretwell-Munns regarding the undesirable intrusion of Costa Coffee and similar multi-nationals into our market towns (The Yorkshire Post, August 9), she is wrong to blame her local planning authority for granting planning permission.

As a retired planner, I have often received complaints of a similar nature but the fact is that the planning authority cannot base its decision upon the name of the applicant. It is the ‘use class’ which is being considered, not the operator.

Three years ago in Bedale, a Tesco Express was applied for, and was subject to a significant level of complaint, but there was nothing that Hambleton District Council could do. It is also quite a co-incidence that permission has recently been granted there for another Costa Coffee, although the town already has three excellent local independent cafés. We can but hope that the local businesses keep their customers at the expense of the incomer.

From: Ann Doyle, Harrogate.

NO ONE is forcing residents of Pickering to frequent the new Costa Coffee chain in the town. It’s all the more reason to support those independent cafes that add to the vitality of our high streets.

Climate of contempt

From: David Cragg-James, Kirkcudbrightshire.

THAT the Government should resort to crude bribes in the hope of reducing opposition to hydraulic fracturing conveniently demonstrates its incomprehension of a principled opposition. Perhaps only the Conservative party in government is prepared to put a price tag on the climate which sustains our planet, on the air we breathe, and on the water we drink.

Clearly its opinion of the ideals and hope which motivate the common man is low. Do we have the Government we deserve? Surely not.

Warped priorities

From: Barry Foster, High Stakesby, Whitby.

WHAT a strange world we live in. Recent reports in your paper leave me a little puzzled and frankly disgusted.

A young boy with muscular dystrophy seeking help to finance a wheelchair. A person near Hull with MND doing the same thing. A family in Wales winning a nauseating £61m on the EuroMillions. Just where is the justice?

1966 and all that...

From: Denis Clarebrough, Church Street North, Old Whittington, Chesterfield.

I WAS amused to read the letter from Peter Tummons (The Yorkshire Post, August 4) in which he said that the World Cup goal should not have been given to England in 1966.

I was present at the match and had a much better position to make a judgement on the decision as my seat (row 3, seat 259) was about 10-15 yards from the corner flag. I was a lone Sheffielder among a crowd of Everton fans. We had no doubt that the ball had fallen on the ‘goal’ side of the line and England forward Roger Hunt agreed as he turned away in delight as the ball fell from the crossbar.

The truth is we can’t be certain. Remember players from the past telling the referee ‘It wasn’t a goal’ and getting the inevitable reply ‘Look in tonight’s sports paper, lad. That will tell you that it was.’

Price tag

From: Mrs Whittaker, Horbury.

I HAVE to wonder if David Rowley, your Magazine’s Style Clinic editor, lives in the real world? He can’t seem to put an outfit together for under £1,000.