Letters to the Editor

The current political posturing over John Townend's views is only inflaming the issue. If he is expelled from the Conservative Party he will be a martyr to his cause, and Lord Taylor is exacerbating the point by threatening to jump ship over it.

Lord Taylor's respected views would be more beneficial to the party he joined if he accepted that this is a country of people from all parts of the world, with the accompanying difficulties and tensions, rather than promoting a McCarthyist attitude which will only make people think twice before discussing a subject through fear of an accusation of racism.

This country became Great Britain through the integration and consolidation of many peoples over time, many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice along the way in defence of it to support the one value and principle that allows us to stand out from many other nations: the principle of free speech.

D Bartle, Woodside Crescent, Cottingley.

SIR - The letter from Mohammed Javaid (April 30) was absolutely brilliant. Common sense at last and it feels like a breath of fresh air in a murky situation.

We have always had freedom of speech in our democracy until the "politically correct" decreed that we ought not say what we feel.

Now at last, maybe we can go forward without looking over our shoulder for the Commision for Racial Equality telling us what we should or should not say.

We have a problem, and race should be allowed to be discussed.

People like Mohammed Javaid restore the faith we were rapidly losing. The majority of Bradfordians are NOT racist and take exception to being told if we mention "race" that we are. I wish the politicians understood this.

J Milner, St Abbs Way, Bradford.

SIR - Dr Mohammed Ali's figures (T&A, April 30) are interesting.

Perhaps the key is mastery of the English language - and to this end, perhaps it's time the publication of official documents in a variety of languages should cease, as should the shoal of job adverts which request a knowledge of a South Asian language.

I would think that the majority of job-seekers have either been through the school system, or have been born here.

Some time ago, I heard the distinguished African/American actor, Morgan Freeman, state in an interview that Afro/Americans had found that constantly playing the race-card had been proven to be counter-productive.

R F Hughes, Manor Gardens, Cullingworth.

SIR - Labour's almost daily move towards totalitarianism is well illustrated by the politically-incorrect composition of the CRE.

As they constantly harangue public and private bodies, they should consider that:

1. The Commission does not reflect the ethnic population make-up of this country;

2. It does not show any political balance.

Shades of Mugabe/Zimbabwe. Labour Totalitarianism "denoting the characteristics of a one party state that regulates every realm of life." A very dangerous path for any country.

Mrs B Cussons, Curly Hill, Ilkley.

SIR - I would like to offer my thoughts regarding the disturbances in Lidget Green.

Every time there is one of these outbursts, the yobs say it is because they have nothing to do, etc. Then there are weeks of talks between race-relations officers, councillors, senior police officers, head of this, head of that.

But all the hard work is to no avail because it happens again and the same old excuses are used: of boredom, race etc.

The answer to the problem could be for the police and the yobs to work together. For instance, the yobs could tell the police how to get 100 fellow officers to a scene within five or ten minutes, or teach them how to focus on the job in hand for five or six hours without any distractions from anybody.

In return the police could teach the yobs about hobbies such as how to use a camcorder and how to stop a motorist who is slightly over the speed limit.

G Brown, West End, Queensbury.

SIR - Jim Flood's criticism of the Roman Catholic diocese's handling of the Jenny Lane issue is misleading.

The Church's resources are managed by a Board of Directors and advised by others, mainly clergy, with the Bishop as chairman.

Unfortunately within the Catholic Church, at least 99 per cent of the members have no legal right to participate in decision-making. This is done by the clerical elite.

The clergy take a vow of obedience, in lawful matters, to the Bishop. It is probable that healthy open debate of the kind common to board meetings of secular organisation does not take place at Diocesan board meetings.

Being prevented from marrying, Catholic priests are deprived of the very considerable responsibilities and demands of family life. They tend not to engage in the affairs of secular communities.

In Allerton local groups, religious and secular, and Bradford Council are working on a project which will help children. The Anglican Church is donating land and financial resources. Is this the way forward at Jenny Lane?

My views are based on more than 40 years of time, skills and financial resources invested in the activities of the Roman Catholic Church. I think I have earned the right to help make decisions.

Ted Harris, Ormonde Drive, Allerton.

SIR - It is now five weeks since the last case of foot and mouth in West Yorkshire at Rawdon. When will Bradford and Calderdale cease to be officially designated by MAFF as an infected area?

When this designation is lifted, all moorland and extensively grazed open land can safely be opened to walkers, according to the latest MAFF guidelines.

John Illingworth, Tunwell Lane, Eccleshill

SIR - Our thanks to George and Margaret Riseborough of Broad Left Against Blairism (April 19) for supporting our campaign against the privatisation of council housing.

As this issue will be of importance to many working-class voters coming up to the elections, may we invite other party candidates to publicly state where they stand.

Eileen Allen, (Defend Council Housing Campaign, Bradford) Reevy Road West, Buttershaw.