This is Somerset --
Let us remember where hatred leads
Swivel-eyed loons or not, the one thing that has been confirmed over the past few weeks is the nature of the politics on the ground common to the Tory right, Ukip and the BNP.
This is best summed up in one word: hatred... hatred of anyone with different sexuality, language or ethnicity.
I don't know how their own insecurities came about, or why they think that visiting them upon the rest of us will improve the situation.
However, I do know where hatred leads and would urge all clear-thinking voters to oppose those who espouse it.
Jeff Byrne
Clevedon, North Somerset
Cameron needs a permanent coalition
It was reported on the front page of The Daily Telegraph (May 20), that members on the Conservative wing of the Tory Party are defecting in increasing numbers to Ukip, following the reference by someone close to David Cameron to traditional Conservatives being "swivel- eyed loons".
Mr Cameron is gambling that his radical social policies will attract new younger members who are relaxed about "gay marriage" and the EU, without testing, too far, the loyalty of his party's Conservative, mostly older, supporters.
If Mr Cameron wants to preserve his party, he will have to make his political partnership with Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats permanent, as the new Radical Party, on the centre right of politics.
Robert Craig
All The South Party
Even Elvis couldn't win this stitch-up
It is time that we came out of Europe – nobody loves us and it is a complete waste of money.
I refer, of course, to that ridiculous extravaganza, the Eurovision Song Contest.
We could raise Elvis from the grave and nobody would vote for us, because most countries are too busy cosying up to their neighbours, irrespective of the quality of the music or singer.
This year Ireland gave us seven votes so we should be grateful for small mercies, but as usual there were none from France or most of the other countries across the English Channel.
Good heavens, we are the country who gave The Beatles, The Stones and even Des O'Connor to the world, have the Europeans no respect?
I know I am sad for sitting through the whole three hours, hoping that a miracle would happen and that we would have a Bonny result. But in all honesty we are wasting our time and we should let the European luvvies wallow in their stitched up competition.
Geoff Malham
Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
We might as well ban the White Ensign
So the Radstock town councillors have decided to stop flying the flag of the patron saint of England "because it might offend Muslims" (Western Daily Press, May 16).
In which case, they should also lobby the Admiralty to demand that the ships of the Royal Navy should stop flying the White Ensign and demand that it be replaced with a less offensive design – something with sheep and donkeys rampant, perhaps.
I suggest that this ridiculous decision should be reversed immediately.
After all, there are many non-Muslims who might also be offended by such a barmy action.
Basil Jones
Swindon, Wiltshire
Rail has right of way over the road
A few years ago, the head of Network Rail visited Portishead and she was reported as being shocked that the marina developers had cut the track and built Quay Street across it. She was reported as stating that "the developers would have to reinstate the rail track at their own expense".
So it is the railway that has the right to exist at that point, not the road.
David E Hockin
Portishead, North Somerset
Fines, not jail, would have been better
What a fiasco the Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce affair has been.
After two months in jail at the taxpayers' expense, they have been released on licence, but don't seem to have learnt anything, as is demonstrated by the arrogant way they are offering to pay just a quarter of the £100,000, plus costs, of the court case.
I wonder if this figure includes all the time and effort put in by the police in this case?
It seems Vicky is to write a book about her experience in jail and no doubt Chris will find ways of adding to his already vast fortune.
So once again it seems the taxpayer must foot the bill.
Surely it would have been of more use to hit them in the pocket by making them pay for the whole cost of this fiasco, plus a fine and community service, during which they could have used some of their many properties to try to help some of the homeless and rough sleepers get back on their feet.
When legal aid is being cut, it doesn't seem right that the rich get off lightly.
Of course, legal aid should be limited and more emphasis put on reconciliation, and where there is overwhelming evidence against defendants, lawyers should advise their clients to plead guilty, but of course, this wouldn't be in the lawyers' interest.
Once again it's the ordinary taxpayer who shells out both for the rich and those on benefits.
Phil Jenkins
Paignton, Devon
Last chance to save HMS Plymouth
A call to old sea dogs and the general public: please support a petition to stop the cutting up for scrap of ex-Navy warship and Falklands campaign veteran, HMS Plymouth – a ship that was built in the West Country.
Time is short. Go to the Government's e-petition website then under petition search enter joined words savehmsplymouth, thanks.
F E Sharpe
Plymouth, Devon
Pilot Officer Ronald Steer: can you help?
Researchers are trying to contact descendants of the seven-man crew of a Lancaster bomber shot down over Normandy in August, 1943.
Officials in the town of La Vespiere, near Lisieux, are planning to unveil a memorial to the crew and three people who died on the ground on the 70th anniversary of the crash.
The bomber had left Syerston, near Newark, for a raid on the industrial centre of Milan the previous evening and was returning as dawn broke. It was shot down by a Focke-Wulf 109.
One of the crew was from Keynsham, Bristol, and I thought there was a chance that descendants might still be in the area. If they are, perhaps they could contact me. Pilot Officer Ronald Steer was just 21 when he was killed. His RAF number was 147998 and he was the son of Roland and Ethel Steer.
We have traced the granddaughter and great-grandson of the flight engineer and they are going to France in August as guests of the mayor of La Vespiere.
Harold Heys
whatsmyname@anyharduns.co.uk Reported by This is 9 hours ago.
Let us remember where hatred leads
Swivel-eyed loons or not, the one thing that has been confirmed over the past few weeks is the nature of the politics on the ground common to the Tory right, Ukip and the BNP.
This is best summed up in one word: hatred... hatred of anyone with different sexuality, language or ethnicity.
I don't know how their own insecurities came about, or why they think that visiting them upon the rest of us will improve the situation.
However, I do know where hatred leads and would urge all clear-thinking voters to oppose those who espouse it.
Jeff Byrne
Clevedon, North Somerset
Cameron needs a permanent coalition
It was reported on the front page of The Daily Telegraph (May 20), that members on the Conservative wing of the Tory Party are defecting in increasing numbers to Ukip, following the reference by someone close to David Cameron to traditional Conservatives being "swivel- eyed loons".
Mr Cameron is gambling that his radical social policies will attract new younger members who are relaxed about "gay marriage" and the EU, without testing, too far, the loyalty of his party's Conservative, mostly older, supporters.
If Mr Cameron wants to preserve his party, he will have to make his political partnership with Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats permanent, as the new Radical Party, on the centre right of politics.
Robert Craig
All The South Party
Even Elvis couldn't win this stitch-up
It is time that we came out of Europe – nobody loves us and it is a complete waste of money.
I refer, of course, to that ridiculous extravaganza, the Eurovision Song Contest.
We could raise Elvis from the grave and nobody would vote for us, because most countries are too busy cosying up to their neighbours, irrespective of the quality of the music or singer.
This year Ireland gave us seven votes so we should be grateful for small mercies, but as usual there were none from France or most of the other countries across the English Channel.
Good heavens, we are the country who gave The Beatles, The Stones and even Des O'Connor to the world, have the Europeans no respect?
I know I am sad for sitting through the whole three hours, hoping that a miracle would happen and that we would have a Bonny result. But in all honesty we are wasting our time and we should let the European luvvies wallow in their stitched up competition.
Geoff Malham
Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
We might as well ban the White Ensign
So the Radstock town councillors have decided to stop flying the flag of the patron saint of England "because it might offend Muslims" (Western Daily Press, May 16).
In which case, they should also lobby the Admiralty to demand that the ships of the Royal Navy should stop flying the White Ensign and demand that it be replaced with a less offensive design – something with sheep and donkeys rampant, perhaps.
I suggest that this ridiculous decision should be reversed immediately.
After all, there are many non-Muslims who might also be offended by such a barmy action.
Basil Jones
Swindon, Wiltshire
Rail has right of way over the road
A few years ago, the head of Network Rail visited Portishead and she was reported as being shocked that the marina developers had cut the track and built Quay Street across it. She was reported as stating that "the developers would have to reinstate the rail track at their own expense".
So it is the railway that has the right to exist at that point, not the road.
David E Hockin
Portishead, North Somerset
Fines, not jail, would have been better
What a fiasco the Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce affair has been.
After two months in jail at the taxpayers' expense, they have been released on licence, but don't seem to have learnt anything, as is demonstrated by the arrogant way they are offering to pay just a quarter of the £100,000, plus costs, of the court case.
I wonder if this figure includes all the time and effort put in by the police in this case?
It seems Vicky is to write a book about her experience in jail and no doubt Chris will find ways of adding to his already vast fortune.
So once again it seems the taxpayer must foot the bill.
Surely it would have been of more use to hit them in the pocket by making them pay for the whole cost of this fiasco, plus a fine and community service, during which they could have used some of their many properties to try to help some of the homeless and rough sleepers get back on their feet.
When legal aid is being cut, it doesn't seem right that the rich get off lightly.
Of course, legal aid should be limited and more emphasis put on reconciliation, and where there is overwhelming evidence against defendants, lawyers should advise their clients to plead guilty, but of course, this wouldn't be in the lawyers' interest.
Once again it's the ordinary taxpayer who shells out both for the rich and those on benefits.
Phil Jenkins
Paignton, Devon
Last chance to save HMS Plymouth
A call to old sea dogs and the general public: please support a petition to stop the cutting up for scrap of ex-Navy warship and Falklands campaign veteran, HMS Plymouth – a ship that was built in the West Country.
Time is short. Go to the Government's e-petition website then under petition search enter joined words savehmsplymouth, thanks.
F E Sharpe
Plymouth, Devon
Pilot Officer Ronald Steer: can you help?
Researchers are trying to contact descendants of the seven-man crew of a Lancaster bomber shot down over Normandy in August, 1943.
Officials in the town of La Vespiere, near Lisieux, are planning to unveil a memorial to the crew and three people who died on the ground on the 70th anniversary of the crash.
The bomber had left Syerston, near Newark, for a raid on the industrial centre of Milan the previous evening and was returning as dawn broke. It was shot down by a Focke-Wulf 109.
One of the crew was from Keynsham, Bristol, and I thought there was a chance that descendants might still be in the area. If they are, perhaps they could contact me. Pilot Officer Ronald Steer was just 21 when he was killed. His RAF number was 147998 and he was the son of Roland and Ethel Steer.
We have traced the granddaughter and great-grandson of the flight engineer and they are going to France in August as guests of the mayor of La Vespiere.
Harold Heys
whatsmyname@anyharduns.co.uk Reported by This is 9 hours ago.