We need radical political reform

9:47am Saturday 9th August 2008

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I fully support the views of Dan Cooney in last week's Wharfedale Observer concerning the way Labour supporters are baying for Gordon Brown's blood after the Glasgow by-election defeat.

Although Brown's intellect has always been overrated and his "success" more the result of luck than ability, he does not deserve this. To lay the blame for Labour's demise at his door alone is either delusion or distraction from the real problem. The real reason voters are sick of Labour is its treachery and betrayal of socialism.

It is not only Brown to blame for the voters' rejection of Labour. It is every single Labour MP, every member of the Labour Party, the unions and capitalists who fund it. We are sick of its wars, privatisation, lies and social inequality. It is not a new leader Labour needs. It's a burial.

In these circumstances, the Glasgow voters have done the only thing they can to escape control by the London Establishment. They want separation, and who can blame them. If only England had the same choice.

England should follow Glasgow's example and ignore Labour's capitalist propaganda. Labour has caused wars, and enslaves workers for the benefit of the ruling classes. Our democracy is a capitalist's conspiracy and paradise. No wonder all the world's billionaire non-dom dross gravitates to London.

We must have change and not to another Establishment political party like the Conservatives or Liberals. What is required is radical political, democratic and social reform.

Malcolm Naylor Grange View, Otley

Long-lost relatives

I wonder if your readers can help me in tracking down some long-lost relatives in Wharfedale, or advise me how to proceed? Sylvia Giles (b. 1912) and her sister Celia (b. 1914) moved into the area with their father, Reginald Giles, in about 1918. Sylvia married Edgar Handley in 1938 and they had (at least) three children: Suzanne (b. 1939), Yvonne (b. 1940) and Gyles (b. 1942). I wonder if any of these names are familiar? Sylvia and Celia's step-mother was my great-aunt, Helena (Nellie) Boyle, who had married a Mr Gray before marrying their father.

Another relative, but unrelated to the Giles-Handley family, is Keith Appleyard (b. 1933). Is he still resident locally?

If anyone can help, I would be obliged if they would email me at timbobangkok@gmail.com, or write to the Wharfedale and Airedale Observer.

Tim Boyle 33/266 Moobaan Ladawan Soi 6/4 Srinakharin Rd, Bangphli, Samutprakarn, Thailand 10540

Flying the flag

Can I please urge our local pro-European and publicity stunt/photo shoot specialist, MP Greg Mulholland, to please do something that's practically worthwhile and arrange for the European Union flag to start flying in Otley and sorrounding towns ASAP You might not be if your head is buried in the sand, but you should be aware that we have many Polish, Lithuanian, Slovakian, Bulgarian and Romanian immigrants who have come to West Yorkshire to work in the hospitality and leisure industry, and there has been, to date, no recognition of them locally. But there should be, they are hard-working, polite and good people who put the English Jeremy Kyle-Playstation generation to shame.

Furthermore, in 2008 in Otley for example, there is nothing to even suggest we are in the EU and it's about time there was. Why do Spain, Italy and France, among others, proudly fly the EU flag from local town hall's and buildings but we don't? We are far too introverted and small-minded and it has to change. We all benefit from everything Europe has to offer, most of the big decisions come from Brussels and we holiday abroad. Let's get the flags ordered and get them flying from the Civic Centre, Jubilee Clock, Golf Club and Conservative Club with an opening ceremony performed by Greg MulHOLLAND (geddit?) Dan Cooney Church Lane, Esholt

Out of sight

I'd like to ask your readers to support Cancer Research UK's new Out of Sight, Out of Mind campaign, which aims to make sure that children and young people have the right to be protected from the marketing and promotion of a product that kills: tobacco. I'm very concerned by the influence tobacco marketing has over young people and the relative ease with which they can still purchase cigarettes.

Tobacco advertising has been banned on television, in print and on billboards. Yet children are still regularly exposed to attractive tobacco displays and appealing on-pack branding in shops, newsagents and supermarkets. Many young people, particularly underage smokers, buy cigarettes from vending machines.

By closing the loophole which allows tobacco to be displayed at the point of sale, prohibiting the sale of cigarettes from vending machines and making plain packaging for tobacco products compulsory, Ministers can reduce the pull towards a potentially deadly addiction. Around 450 under18s start smoking every single day across the UK. Half of all smokers will eventually die from cancer or other smoking-related diseases. Please help Cancer Research UK put tobacco out of sight and out of mind by pledging your support today for this important campaign at www.cancercampaigns.org.uk Konnie Huq TV presenter

Corrections

Thank you for publishing my letter, The Turning Point, in the Wharfedale Postbag on July 31. May I ask you to publish two corrections: 1 The author of Leeds Transport in Four Volumes is J Soper and not J Pope.

2 In the second paragraph, the second sentence should read my guess is that a turning Y' in the overhead existed between Main Street and Station Road at Burley-in-Wharfedale. The letter Y was omitted.

CV Barton Hasley Road, Burley-in-Wharfedale