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Local councillors don't sign up out of greed
I read with some dismay your letter from a "local authority employee" who said they wanted to see details of MPs expenses before deciding who to vote for in the County Council elections (Letters May 20).
There is no doubt that many MPs of all parties have stretched the expenses system beyond breaking point and brought Parliament into disrepute.
But it is important to make the distinction between some greedy national politicians and local councillors.
Local councillors, invariably become involved because they care about the area they live in and want to make a difference. They certainly don't get involved to make money.
While it is true that County councillors receive higher pay, it
simply reflects the increased time and responsibility involved.
I do hope that the actions of some greedy people at Westminster doesn't affect the way people vote at County Council elections.
Matthew Tomlinson, via email
Politicians could wake up to Boycott
I have always voted Labour and always will - IF I vote. But after the row over expenses and the reluctance of MPs to control themselves even in the face of public outrage, I have decided not to vote at all in the
coming elections and I strongly urge people of all parties to do the same.
Maybe when MPs realise that no-one is going to vote for them whatever party they represent, they will start behaving in the way people expect.
Nothing else so far has worked, so maybe a voting boycott will.
If some of these MPs were in the real world they would be in the courts for benefits fraud.
Politicians have always said that our votes count. Well a lot of good that has done.
They must spend more time working out how much they can claim than working out what is best for the majority of people.
They have had opportunities for self-regulation and, like the banks, did not take it.
I hope a boycott will work but I will not be holding my breath... just my vote.
R Collins, address supplied
Hard to believe in MPs nowadays
I read the recent letter calling on people to remember that the "vast majority" of MPs were probably not feathering their own nests by
exploiting their expenses and allowances arrangements.
I would like the bet that all those members who only claimed for items which they genuinely needed to perform their job, could convene a meeting in my bathroom in reasonable comfort. They would have to do
without gold-plated taps, though.
Name and address supplied
Horrendous acts in name of religion
I note, with some appreciation of the irony, the accusations levelled at Charles Darwin by Bill Mason (Letters April 29).
He more or less tries to make the father of modern biology responsible for all the evil in the world.
How many people who understand Darwin's theory (recently proven by genetic analysis at molecular level to be fact) have persecuted, imprisoned, tortured and burned alive those who do not agree with our view?
This was the behaviour of European Christians immediately prior to the modern age, enlightened as it is by inquiring thought.
The gall of agents of organised religion accusing anyone else of wrongdoing is laughable given the enormous crimes against human beings perpetrated in the name of theism.
Trev Edwards, via email
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Weather for Wigan
Saturday 26 May 2012
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