YEP Letters: April 29

Why isn’t exhibition in Yorkshire?

Ian Ward, by email

I recently visited an excellent photography exhibition called Grafters that featured photos of Northern workers over the last 100-plus years.

The majority of the photos came from the archive of the Bradford born curator, most of the rest from Yorkshire based archives eg. Leeds, Bradford, Doncaster, etc. museums, and new poems had been written by Yorkshire poet Ian McMillan.

However, the exhibition was in Manchester.

When almost everything in the exhibition is from Yorkshire, why isn’t the exhibition?

Why does it take a Manchester museum to put it all together?

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We can and will survive out of the EU

Mrs J Green, Crossgates

Reading YEP letters I have to admit that I must have somehow missed John Cole’s previous letters illustrating his wish to stay In Europe.

Seventy years ago we were emerging from a World War, through our hard work and determination, our workforce was rebuilt and our economy was growing, the progress was ours.

Our gradual membership of the EU started by joining the Common Market, but by stealth we have emerged into this depressing state we are in now.

Ruled by foreign countries unelected and unaccountable, we are obliged to spend billions for the dubious right to be a member and abide by their rules. True, the UK in comparison to some, is a rich and civilised country, but we have worked hard and long to secure this status.

We are not self seeking, we wish to consolidate our future and that of our families, it is no thanks to the European Union that we have been successful. Since joining, our vital services are now all in decline. The NHS, hospitals, doctors and geriatric care, social housing, schools and industries, prisons are full of foreign convicts we cannot deport because of EU rules. Is this what a European Federation is meant to be?

Cameron is planning to spend another £2billion to help other countries, Albania, Turkey and Serbia to join the EU. Freedom of movement for these “peoples” as Mr Cole likes to put it, will bring even more to our shores.

We already have foreign nationals homeless and jobless, sleeping rough in London and many other cities. We are expected to share our wealth with Europe, baling out the poorer countries such as Greece who cannot afford to pay their dues, and others who will be accepted as members regardless of their human rights records.

Is that what Mr Cole means by the UK remaining, helping to reform and holding the EU together? It was apparent that Mr Cameron does not hold much sway at the negotiation table when he returned from Brussels empty handed trying to negotiate new deals for the UK last month. We are struggling to hold our own young families together through Cameron’s austerity rule, while he squanders our money on his ‘Remain’ leaflet to every household.

However, I would much prefer to be ruled in my own country with a properly elected Government and show due respect to our monarchy, having our own laws, rules and legislation debated in our own Parliament, to trade where we wish, re-equip our armed forces and regulate our borders and ports with a properly restricted movement of all immigration to the UK.

I am part of Europe by dint of geography, but I do not wish to be a part of Europe by means of paying into a corrupt union of “peoples” whose customs and habits and laws do not accord with ours.

If that is what he means by ‘narrow nationalism’ so be it. My strong belief is that we can and will survive out of the EU and be better off to the tune of billions every year.

Support your pharmacy

John Appleyard, Liversedge

I believe that local pharmacies are a vital frontline health service and part of the fabric of communities across England.

Under new government proposals, many pharmacies could be forced to close - depriving people of accessible medicines advice and other valuable support from trusted professionals.

It would also put more pressure on GPs and hospital services.

In the interest of patient care, I would urge the Prime Minister and Health Secretary to abandon plans that put our pharmacies at risk.

Petitions are available to sign at local pharmacies and I would urge readers to write to their MP to support the campaign which can be looked at www.supportyourlocalpharmacy.org

Cycle lane waste of money

Nancy Oxley, by email

Well the Tour de Yorkshire bike race is starting and not going anywhere near the Bradford to Leeds supposedly super bike lanes.

What a waste of money. Somebody has got a lot of money for something that is not wanted and is causing traffic headaches and as usual not finished even though signs say super cycle way opening spring 2016.

Respect the health service

A Hague, Leeds 9

My doctor’s screen shows 505 people failed to turn up for their appointments in March (over 20 a day).

I think it’s time breakers of respect for our health service were fined if not providing a good excuse for wasting doctors’ valuable time.

The attitude of some people is appalling and fining them is one way to help our health service survive the onslaught from our ruling Tory party.

Downward spiral for UK

P Harrison, Leeds 17

I keep seeing letters referring to better wages and holidays because of the EU.

This is wrong, the unions of this country have fought long and hard for decent wages, better working conditions, reasonable hours and holiday entitlement for the working people, nothing at all to do with the EU.

Subsequent Conservative governments have taken away the power of the unions and we now have things like zero hours contracts and the need for working people to visit food banks. This country is on a downward spiral and it won’t get any help from the EU. The main countries are Germany and France, when did they ever do anything for Britain, except laugh at David Cameron?

Is it coeliac disease?

Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive Coeliac UK

Coeliac UK is the national charity for people with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis.

It is estimated coeliac disease affects one in 100 people but only around a quarter of those with the condition are currently diagnosed. We are urging readers, in Coeliac UK Awareness Week (9-15 May), to ask “is it coeliac disease?” if they are suffering from any of these symptoms - anaemia, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, regular bouts of diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, ongoing fatigue, weight loss, or constant mouth ulcers. If that is you, we encourage you to visit www.isitcoeliacdisease.org.uk and take Coeliac UK’s online assessment. The assessment provides you with a result that you can take to your GP if your responses indicate a need for further tests. Since the assessment was launched under a year ago, over 30,000 people have taken the questionnaire and from feedback initial results suggest that around 8% of those who were recommended to seek advice went on to be diagnosed with coeliac disease.

Coeliac disease (pronounced see-liac) is not an allergy or an intolerance but an autoimmune disease, so when people with coeliac disease eat gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, the body attacks and damages the lining of the gut where food is absorbed, making it difficult for the body to get the nutrients it needs. Gluten is found in many every day foods such as bread, pasta, cereals, cakes, biscuits and sauces.

A lack of diagnosis means unpleasant symptoms recurring on a frequent basis which, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems such as osteoporosis, fertility problems and, in some cases, small bowel cancer. It is estimated nearly 500,000 people in the UK have coeliac disease but remain untreated and undiagnosed.