Your letters - March 12, 2010

The UK knows best as EU is in freefall

STRAIGHT bananas coming back!? Yes, maybe as the Spanish MEPs try to re-introduce the European Union (EU) ban that was scrapped last July.

The EU is in freefall as member states realise that the EU's concept of "one size fits all" is not working. Empires through history, exemplified by the demise of the USSR recently, have all had to succumb to the realisation that local folk know best. Even 72 per cent of the prospective Conservative parliamentary candidates in this forthcoming election feel that Britain needs to re-negotiate Britain's relationship with the EU, much the same feelings of the UK Independence Party that want an EU exit coupled with a trade agreement; such agreements are already in place with over a hundred nations worldwide.

British tax payers are incensed that an immigrant worker can go back home to Latvia or wherever, leave his large family behind, yet still have benefits paid to the family staying in Britain. In other words, no tax payer is paying for the wife and children lumbered on the indigenous UK tax-payer. Indigenous Britons have had their "good deeds and tolerance" overstretched to its limits and the expression, "something for nothing" flashes before their eyes.

TONY SMITH

UK Independence Party Prospective

Parliamentary Candidate for Hastings and Rye,

I did not set out to smear MP Foster

THE letter from Margaret Sandra of Brede (March 5) that you published under the heading 'Put an end to smear attacks on Rye MP' makes it look as though I had set out to smear our current Labour MP, Michael Foster, by implying that I made a false statement regarding his pay in my letter printed in your edition of February 19.

This is a complete fabrication. If Ms Sandra cares to re-read my previous letter she will find that I made no reference whatsoever to Mr Foster's pay. My letter referred solely to Mr Foster's record as a loyal Labour politician and expressed the view that if the people of Hastings and Rye want a new direction at both national and local level they cannot afford to re-elect him however affable and vigorous he may appear to be.

Sadly, when confronted with valid criticism or uncomfortable truths, it now seems that the standard response from Labour supporters (and this Labour government) is to totally ignore what their critics actually said and launch an attack on something that they clearly didn't say.

I suggest that if Ms Sandra and your readers want an independentoverview of Michael Foster's actions and finances as an MP that they ignore his personal website and visit the independent website TheyWorkForYou.com and judge for themselves whether he is quite the dedicated hardworking MP that he claims to be.

RICHARD MEADE

Down Oak Farm

Westfield

MP Foster cannot serve two masters

MS JANET Mears has uttered a vile calumny in her response to my recent letter (Rye Observer, February 19). First, she accuses me of 'spewing bile and vitriol'. I invite any reader to consider the letter and make up their mind. Second, she implies that I am a Tory. Finally, she ought to spell my name correctly in order to avoid further misrepresentation.

I can state categorically that I am not a member of any political party; my passion is to see that in the UK we live in a country which is self governing, and which uses the institutions we have developed to do this. Historically the job of government ministers is to make the laws and policies through which we are governed. The job of an MP is to challenge, scrutinise and amend the laws to be certain they are just, workable, and appropriate. As the old saying goes, Jack cannot serve two masters; hence an MP should not also be a minister, nor should a minister attempt to do an MP's work. The fact that other MPs are ministers does not alter this argument – the issue is one of role conflict and work overload.

This role conflict was the broad basis of my original letter, in which I offered a suggested solution to the dilemma we face here in Hastings and Rye (MP Michael Foster has accepted a job in the government as the Equality Minister, on a voluntary basis).

Janet Mears expresses delight that he gives his services as a junior minister FREE. However, the duties of a minister of the crown are extremely arduous and fill every minute of the day or night (as described recently by the wife of John Prescott). There is simply no time left for other public duties, and this is reflected in the very generous salary offered to any MP taking on the role. To claim that his additional role of a minister is FREE is simply laughable.

Mr Foster cannot physically be in two places at once. Groups or individuals must be bearing the cost through reduced MP availability, support and leadership in putting the case to meet the unique needs of the constituency.

A constituency MP should be wholly and professionally employed working for the local voters, day in, day out. He or she should be present in the constituency to give easy access for voters.

What other profession would accept a situation where an employee (salary 65,000) accepts another position which is also full time, requires travel out of the area, and which brings conflict between the functions, responsibilities and perspectives needed for each job?

If she should care to respond and apologise for her calumny, would she please spell my name correctly, it is my most precious possession!

ROD STUART

Iden

Support council's vital services fight

ALL residents of Battle and its surrounding area should welcome and support Battle Town Council's initiative to take responsibility for vital town services away from Rother District Council (Battle Observer, February 19).

A successful outcome of this initiative would give the council a revenue stream from parking charges from which to help finance the important Tourist Office and the public toilet facilities.

If the setting of parking charges were to be remitted to the local council, responsible to its own local community, it should be able to set a policy that is understood and accepted by residents, who would then feel that the revenue from parking is not being siphoned off to subsidise activities elsewhere in Rother.

Given the importance of Battle as an international tourist site, it is vital that we ensure that the basic facilities that help promote the town, the 1066 area and support local trade, are really focused on attracting more tourists to the area, especially in the run-up to the Olympic Games in 2012.

We should seek assurance, however, that the town council is sufficiently well supported with financial, and contract negotiating and monitoring expertise to ensure that this endeavour will be a success.

DR PETER T GREENE

Chain Lane

Battle

Tenterden Gateway works for visitors

WHAT a sensible letter from Michael Miller of Rye appeared in your paper of February 26.

Here is someone who has obviously visited and used the Tenterden Gateway and appreciates how well it works. I am unsure if John Howlett, writing in the February newsletter of the Campaign for a Democratic Rye, actually was in the same place.

RAY HAYLEY-BARKER

Forge Mews

Rye

Seeking memories of wartime Rye

I WONDER if you have a spare corner in the Rye Observer could you print a request for anybody with memories of the Rye area during the Second World War to contact me, please.

My telephone number is 01424 882046 or email is [email protected]. Many thanks.

DENIS LANGLEY

Chitcombe Road

Broad Oak

We must continue rail campaign

GREG Barker is to be commended on having secured the debate in Westminster on the rail service in this constituency and in particular the threat to the through Cannon Street to Hastings service. However it would appear that he has received absolutely no reassurances that this threat will be removed.

I have been campaigning with both the rail action groups against this withdrawal of service and we are painfully aware of the effect that it will have on local communities. I am, however, puzzled why this parliamentary debate was not secured earlier or even why our MP did not object to the withdrawal of this service outlined in the Rail Utilisation Strategy during the time of the consultation period for the RUS which ended in August of last year.

We must all continue to campaign for this essential service on behalf of residents of this part of East Sussex who travel to the City of London to work, and indeed for the continued health and strength of the City itself which is threatened by such a move.

MARY VARRALL

Bexhill and Battle Liberal Democrat

Prospective Parliamentary Candidate