Letters - May 10, 2016

Former mayor of London Ken Livingstone is surrounded media outside Millbank in Westminster, London, as Jeremy Corbyn is facing intense pressure to suspend his close ally after he defended the actions of an MP suspended over an anti-Semitism row. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 28, 2016. Senior figures in the party, including Labour's current candidate for London mayor and two shadow cabinet ministers, have called for Mr Livingstone to be thrown out after he said Bradford West MP Naz Shah's actions were "over the top" but not anti-Semitic. See PA story POLITICS Shah. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

POLITICSWe all know who is to blame for rowI am sure many readers of the Gazette have been amazed at some of the left-wing propaganda Marjorie Nye has had published.

However she has excelled herself this time in her letter of May 4 (‘We need to root out hate in all its forms’).

Ken Livingstone had toured various studios claiming that Hitler was a Zionist and was confronted by Labour MP John Mann, who called Livingstone a Nazi apologist.

Ms Nye claims it is John Mann who should be suspended.

Many will find this bizarre, but it probably says a lot about Ms Nye’s political approach.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn claims that Hamas and Hezbollah are his friends, and I wonder if this has encouraged certain Labour members to air their anti-Semitic views.

Ms Nye finishes her letter by trying to blame this Labour issue on David Cameron – what utter nonsense!

We all know who is to blame and it is the anti-Semites in the Labour Party – they need to be thrown out of the party immediately.

Coun Peter Gibson

Leader, Wyre Council

RIGHTS

MP was correct to speak out on USA

A letter from ‘Name and address supplied’ castigates Fleetwood MP Cat Smith for speaking out in support of the plight of a minority in the American South (Your Say, Gazette, May 5).

North Carolina and Mississippi have made it legal to discriminate against LGBT people. This means they can now be denied service, or even medical attention, simply for being gay. This is plain and simply wrong. Discrimination in all its forms is detestable whether hear or abroad yet your correspondent thinks that, because it’s another democratic country, we shouldn’t get involved.

Their officials may well be elected, but then so was the greatest monster the world has ever seen.

Sometimes it is necessary to “get involved”. Just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s right.

Martin Woodsford

Park Road

St Annes

HEALTH

Show your support for NHS nurses

Once again, the Conservative Government is eroding nursing pay.

While it is true that last month, the Government awarded nurses a meagre one per cent pay rise, it still means nurses’ pay is around 14 per cent behind the cost of living than when David Cameron came to power in 2010.

Now there’s been another attack on our pay. This time changes in National Insurance arrangements on pensions will wipe out our one per cent rise before it even hits our pay packet.

It’s just not good enough. That’s why we’re asking all members of the public to support the RCN’s campaign for fair pay for all nursing staff.

If you are a member of the public and would like to tweet your support for fair pay for nurses, please either visit www.rcn.org.uk/nursingcounts, or tweet your local MP directly using the hashtag #nursingcounts.

Nursing staff work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year caring for patients. Please help show us you care by supporting our campaign.

Let’s tell the Government that nursing staff won’t stand for it any longer.

Thousands of our members across the region are dedicated to caring for you, 24hrs a day, 365 days a year, whatever your illness or condition. Please show your support for us.

Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) North West Board

Suzanne Butler, nurse, Liverpool; Claire Chatterton, nurse, Chester; David Dawes, nurse, Buxton; Lesley Doherty, nurse, Rossendale; Sheila Dunbar, nurse, Chester; Alan Finnegan, nurse, Chester; Julie Gregory, nurse, Blackburn; Maggy Heaton, nurse, Blackpool; Karen Lister, nurse, Stalybridge; Janet Marsden, nurse, Manchester; Tom Palin, Healthcare Assistant, Crewe; Verna Phillips, nurse, Isle of Man; Ali Richards, nurse, Clitheroe; Jean Rogers, nurse, Wilmslow ;Lucy Tomlins, nurse, Bury

SPORT

I’m not proud to see state of Seasiders

As an expat living in Canada, I am heartbroken to see what has happened to Blackpool Football Club.

Growing up in Blackpool, I always heard older residents reminiscing about the 1953 “Greatest Cup Final Ever”!

I was an avid supporter of BFC and during my teen years, I hardly ever missed a home OR away game. I have continued to follow their progress (and yes, for a brief period of time, there was progress) in the almost 40 years since I moved to Canada, and always attended a game when I was back in Blackpool.

I am sad for the many, many loyal BFC supporters who year after year have continued to support BFC and those loyal season ticket holders who year in and year out show their support by purchasing season tickets. I do not understand why the owners of such a once proud club could have allowed this situation to develop.

I hope they feel ashamed of themselves (but suspect not).

I will continue to “monitor” BFC’s results every week, but can no longer consider myself a “proud” supporter. Sad!

Anne Smith

Innisfil

Ontario

SPORT

Will next season see an upward trend?

Yes, a poor season AGAIN!!! Living 150 miles away I find it difficult to get to many matches; home or away.

Growing up in Blackpool, I still have memories of 1953 and AND 29 family members going to the new Wembley when we beat Cardiff in the play off-final in 2010.

Can somebody reassure me we can start the upward trend next year, and I can get my diary full again?

Well done Fleetwood; wish we could have ‘held your hand’ next season.

Gary Robinson

Worcestershire