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Put people before Party

IN RECENT times it would appear that many local and national politicians have forgotten the primary purpose of their positions – to provide public services which people cannot provide for themselves.

Locally, this involves the provision of roads and parking facilities, street cleaning, refuse collection, accommodation for the homeless, ‘affordable’ housing and public amenities such as libraries and parks.

Nationally, it involves the defence of the realm, national transport facilities by road, rail or air between localities, education, health and social services, and the emergency services - police, fire and ambulance.

The former are supposed to be provided by local taxation; the latter by national taxes. Sadly, over the years, the growth of a variety of different taxes, such as council tax, income tax, corporation tax, business rates, VAT and national insurance) with central grants to Local Authorities, have become too complicated and open to abuse by individuals, companies and those in power.

Where an Act of Parliament demands a provision of public service, whether administered by central or local government, Parliament should ensure proper funding and efficient administration of that service – without waste.

Thus, funding, from whatever source, should ensure enough resources - both money and manpower are available on the front line so that those who are supposed to be able to receive the service can actually get it.

I am sure most politicians go into politics with good intentions, hoping to make things better.

But we all know that the road to hell is paved with good intentions! Sadly, once elected, they get caught up in the system and fear that they must toe the Party line if they are to survive.

They forget that they are there to represent ALL their constituents – not only those who voted for them.

All too often we see Party politics interfere with the provision of services.

Politicians appear to be putting ‘Party’ ahead of ‘The People’ – whom they are elected to serve.

MALCOLM MORRISON

Prospect Hill, Swindon

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Read Bible truths

I FEEL I must respond to Mr Scotford’s letter “Bishops are two-faced.”

Having been a regular worshipper for nearly 80 years, although I am CoE I have also attending many other churches, mainly Methodist because of family connections.

In that time I have never seen anything but Christian love, compassion and understanding to people of different colour, race or sexual feelings.

You state that many Christians are ashamed of actions taken to the above mentioned, but that is an assumption, so may I give you one — the vast number of non going church goers disagree with same sex marriage.

Mr Scotford, please open the other eye and read the description of marriage in the Book of Common Prayer. Jesus answered Pharisee’s question of divorce in Matthew Chapter 19 verses 3 - 11 Man and wife - no mention of same sex marriage, no one can call a woman husband or man a wife.

Your paragraph regarding the Old Testament Jesus answered again when asked, in Luke Chapter 6 verses 27 - 36. To this account we try to live to that way as instructed, but there are times times we fail miserably, at least there is forgiveness for all.

It seems nowadays that the elite liberal will not be satisfied until we burn the Bible and have it rewritten to satisfy their way of life, irrespective of the wishes and hopes of the majority.

JH OLIVER

Brooklands Avenue, Swindon

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Calling D Day veterans

I AM head of travel for the travel arm of the Royal British Legion, Remembrance Travel, and I’m currently on a mission to find every surviving D Day veteran.

The Treasury is enabling a series of free-of-charge tours for D Day veterans to return to Normandy and pay their respects to their fallen comrades.

The tours are being funded by the Treasury from LIBOR fines, and will enable a veteran to return with a family member and carer on a six-night tour.

The 2017 tours will take place in March, April, May and September and will give Normandy veterans - now mostly in their 90s - the chance to revisit the Normandy beaches, cemeteries and memorials.

The tours will be accompanied by a medic and a guide from the Royal British Legion.

The tours will depart from London and will include Eurotunnel from Dover to Calais, accommodation, visits to Pegasus Bridge, Juno, Sword, Gold beaches, Arromanches, and war memorials, plus visits to personally specified cemeteries.

Sadly, there is no database of D Day veterans so we’re calling on the goodwill of the media and general public to spread the word.

So, if you do know a D Day veteran, please do let them know about our free tours.

To benefit from this tour apply to our tour operator, Arena Travel on 01473 660800, or visit www.arenatravel.com/journeysofremembrance.

NICHOLA ROWLANDS

Remembrance Travel

Borough High Street, London

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Trains are on time

YOUR report from Thursday, February 18 states that punctuality on the railways has reached its lowest point in more than a decade, and that figures show that performance declined by almost five per cent during the year ending December 2016.

This statement is not supported by the figures, which actually show that about nine out of ten trains ran on time in 2016 - 88.4 per cent - roughly the same proportion as in 2015 when it was 89.6 per cent.

Rather than comparing the full year figures you have compared figures for the period Nov-Dec 2015 with Nov-Dec 2016 – which were adversely affected by Storm Angus. This is not, however, representative of overall performance.

In fact, year on year performance improved for the majority of periods in 2016. Performance today is about six points higher today than it was when we began operating the Great Western franchise ten years ago.

ANDREW MELLORS

Engineering Director

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Love trumps hate

NEW research by the Press Association, reveals Wiltshire has recorded a 38 per cent increase in reported hate crimes.

This deeply alarming rise shows the vote to leave the EU and the election of Donald Trump has emboldened racists and bigots.

In particular, the Leave Campaign’s deplorable use of fearmongering around immigration and asylum seekers during the referendum campaign has fuelled this hatred.

However, it is also hugely heartening to see people rally in their thousands across the south west against racism and hatred. We have seen huge demonstrations across the region in recent weeks against Donald Trump’s Muslim ban, and almost two million people have signed a petition calling on the Government to bar Trump from making an official state visit to the UK.

The actions of the tolerant majority in response to the threats posed by far-right extremists are more than a match for growing prejudice and intolerance. We are showing the forces of division that love trumps hate.

MOLLY SCOTT CATO

Green MEP for the south west

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Why is Steam backed?

HAVING recently visited Steam Museum I understand the concerns regarding the parking area at the front of the museum, especially when rain transforms the ground into a quagmire.

It therefore comes as no surprise that SBC intends to spend £104,000 on ‘updating the area’ although it does seem odd they are prepared to improve land which will benefit its owner, McArthur Glen.

The council continues to subsidise the Steam Museum every year with more than £250,000 of council tax payer money.

At what point will Coun Renard draw a line under this support and make the hard choice to withdraw funding – after all what makes Steam more worthy of support than Lydiard?

DES MORGAN

Caraway Drive, Swindon

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Warning over law

FREE speech is fundamental to democracy and a free press. In an era of “fake news” and “alternative facts”, social media providers need to do much more to check the ‘facts’ that they broadcast are true. At this time the role of the “whistle-blower” is vital.

So, it is disturbing that the Government is considering a new law that could cause such whistle-blowers, journalists and even elected representatives to face jail under a replacement to the Official Secrets Act, that is reminiscent more of the China, or the Kremlin, than Britain.

This law sees no difference between foreign spies and UK citizens who publish secret Government information, and extends the circle of prosecution from the individual who leaks the information to all who pass it on. Even leaks of economic information related to BREXIT could be subject to it.

Our country’s security is vital. But so is the right of British citizens, our journalists, and elected representatives to draw attention to Government misbehaviour. If this Government brings in such an illiberal law then all lovers of our liberal democracy must fight it all the way.

DR BRIAN MATHEW

Prospective North Wiltshire Lib Dem MP