YEP Letters: October 31

Strictly no room for dance background

R Kimble, Kirkstall

On Saturday night I saw Debbie McGee get a load of tens on Strictly when some of those with no dance history got low marks but are trying much harder than her, given her background (as a professional dancer).

You could see from the clips of the practice sessions that she had no problem doing Saturday night’s dance, a Charleston, from the start, unlike someone coming to, say, a rhumba for the first time.

This practice should stop, give places to only those with no real background (in dancing).

Leeds’ Capital of Culture bid: your views

Leeds has submitted its first stage bid to become European Capital of Culture 2023. High-profile figures from fields including the arts and education along with sport and business have all been speaking in support of the bid during the run-up to its long-awaited send-off. Leeds’ rivals for the 2023 title are expected to include Nottingham and Belfast and Dundee with a decision on the successful bidder due in the middle of next year. We asked YEP readers if the city has what it takes to become European Capital of Culture 2023 and here’s what some of them said on social media..

Philip Sykes

No. I have lived in Leeds over 40 years and don’t see much evidence of culture. Leeds applying for European Capital of Culture is only slightly less laughable than Hull applying.

Tony Rhodes

No way. Too many rundown areas and too much hatred amongst various races and cultures. Send pictures of the rundown areas in Leeds plus the tramps and homeless sleeping on the streets in Leeds city centre all night. This is the true picture of Leeds, the council should spend money on the homeless instead of advertising to become a city of culture. Get your priorities right LCC.

Fee West

The money should be spent on dementia care homes not capital of culture

Gaynor Louise Bainbridge

Nope. I’ve lived in Leeds nearly 32 years and have never seen any evidence of culture being recognised or celebrated. It’s just another way for the council to spend more taxpayers money on anything other than what it needs to be spent on.

Andrew Murdoch

So typical of LCC wasting tax payers money when it should be spent on NHS facilities eg mental health and more social housing and the homeless. Remember the millions wasted on transport plans.

Be prepared for no deal

Paul Thomas, Leeds.

AS the EU continues to be intransigent over Brexit negotiations, the British government should be fully prepared to walk away with no deal rather than agree to a bad deal.

The Government would certainly have the support of the British people. According to a new Sky Data poll, a large majority of the public believes that ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’.

A massive 74 per cent agree the country should walk away rather than accept a bad, ‘punishment’ deal. Just 26 per cent think ‘any deal is better than no deal’.

While it is be hoped that the UK and EU negotiating teams will reach a deal that benefits both sides, it is vital that we should be prepared to walk away without a deal if necessary.

If the UK agrees to a bad deal with the EU, then Britain will be saddled with the terms of the deal for decades.

Lead way on One Yorkshire

John P Hall, Yorkshire Party, Harrogate.

WITH Brexit on the way, we in Yorkshire need a strong dedicated voice to make sure we can take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.

Lancashire is also starting to make a similar case for itself. The county recognises as we do, that the North of England is falling further and further behind.

Various governments over the years have allowed the North/South divide to persist, which is perhaps the main reason why we have Brexit today. Until this happened we were making good progress with the “Northern Powerhouse” initiative.

Yorkshire has lost most of its traditional industries such as coal mining, textiles, steel and fishing.

York, for instance, was once famous for chocolate manufacturing. It now relies on tourism only.

We now need to urgently address this state of affairs. Yorkshire itself would be best placed to do so. There are no major downsides or disadvantages to the devolution concept – it works and it would be disappointing if the presiding government did not give it fair consideration.

The most advanced example of devolved governments can be seen in Germany and Switzerland, both resulting in very prosperous countries.

Many areas of Britain would benefit from devolution. Some areas, however, particularly near London, have no need for change. Yorkshire is one of those regions that is desperately needs to make progress. Not only would it benefit Yorkshire, the added prosperity of the Northern regions would make Britain as a whole economically stronger.

The Yorkshire Party is ready to start negotiations for “One Yorkshire”, as we realise that if we don’t take the initiative, we will only be sold short by another Westminster fudge.

Crisis started in the US

John Appleyard, Liversedge.

In 2015 the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, Sir Nicholas Macpherson, argued that the 2008 financial disaster 
was a ‘banking crisis pure and simple’. The Conservatives have continually blamed Gordon Brown and the Labour government for this in a desperate attempt to make political capital.

However George Osborne has now congratulated Mr Brown’s handling of the crisis, finally conceding it started in the US.

This nails the lie of blaming Labour’s spending.

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