Flagged out

In response to the rather unpleasant and factually inaccurate account by county councillor Dr James Walsh of proceedings at County Hall on July 19 (Gazette letters, July 25), I would suggest that the purchase and display of said ‘EU’ flags was, in itself, an example of pointless gesture politics.

The vote to stay in the ‘EC’ is the usual red herring, of course, as we have never voted to stay in the ‘EU’, a very different beast.

As for the Gatwick question, we were given the papers just 48 hours prior to the debate. I was, initially, completely in favour of the proposed expansion, but I listened carefully to all sides and was particularly impressed by three Labour councillors, Brenda Smith, Sue Mullins and Michael Jones, who echoed our thoughts about insufficient notice and proposed an adjournment to the next council meeting.

It may well have been simmering away for 25 years but, unlike Dr Walsh, some of us have been doing other things with our lives and would like a chance to weigh up the arguments before reaching a decision – it’s called ‘liberal democracy’, James, try it! On the other hand, perhaps you’ve been in politics too long, as your memory is obviously not what it was. You claim that UKIP’s stance on your beloved star-spangled banner was our ‘only statement’, whereas we put down five of the ten motions for debate. Likewise, your assertion that we, ‘ignored all that’, (other subjects of importance), is demonstrable nonsense, as the record shows. You may still be feeling rather miffed that your party in West Sussex, in common with the Lib-Dems nationally, is merely a faintly ridiculous shell of its former self. but you won’t get your followers back this way.

I’m disappointed; I thought we had a worthy opponent, but we shall know what level of debate to descend to for the next council meeting.

Tony Sutcliffe, UKIP county councillor, Nyetimber division

Alleyne Way

Elmer Sands