THE Common market, which we originally signed up to join, has gone.

In its place is the scheme the politicians had in mind all the time but daren’t tell us – the European Union.

This, roughly speaking, can be described as a Stagecoach hitched up and depending for any forward movement on an assorted pulling team of a horse, an ox, a donkey, a cow, two goats, two sheep and four chickens.

Of course, when someone shouted “Giddyup” (in 12 different languages) it was a slow start.

It never really lived up to the proposers’ dreams as the forward progress was tied to the pace of the chickens.

In their pursuit of their impossible dream politicians overlooked this fact and simply added more chickens along the way.

Now progress has halted and we are to have a rethink. Four of the chickens are to be replaced by lame ducks and the politicians are hopefully confident this will solve all problems. Some hope.

We need to go back to the drawing board.

After first sacking all the present levels of both politicians and eurocrats – they are still stargazing while looking through rose-tinted glasses – we need to do exactly the same with those charged with running and overseeing the bankers.

It seems to me they are all supping from the same cup and heads need to roll among the governors of the Bank of England and politicians for not having the nous to see what was in front of their eyes all along.

If they weren’t knowledgeable enough in the past they are not the people to trust to sort it out and re-inspire public confidence in the future.

One last point. I don’t want to be fobbed off by yet another public enquiry.

I want to find out the facts when those guilty of breaking the law appear to answer charges before a judge in a court of law.

John Langford

Lepton

Time for police action

I WAS disturbed to hear it said by ‘experts’ and leading politicians that, for some arcane reason, those allegedly involved in ‘fixing’ bank interest rates may not have committed a criminal offence.

Seemingly, there is a lack of teeth in existing financial sector regulations.

Let me just rewind a little. The setting of the inter-bank lending rate at artificial levels, by deception, has been proven to have occurred.

Why else would Barclays have been fined a telephone number for this offence or its boss apologise publicly?

The evidence indicates that the actual manipulation was done by individuals for their own ends.

I know nothing of the workings of high finance, but I do know that we have ample evidence that individuals in that sector are most often motivated by the chance to earn very large bonuses.

It seems to me unlikely that any of these people took it upon themselves to falsify interest rates just for fun.

It is a fair working assumption that they sought to make money or, in one reported case, a bottle of expensive champagne out of it.

There is, at the very least, ‘reasonable suspicion’ (the trigger for a police arrest and investigation) that they expected to gain “money or money’s worth’’ from their actions.

Never mind looking to complex financial regulations for offences, why not simply use the criminal law which applies to all of us?

It is an offence to obtain a pecuniary advantage (that’s “money or money’s worth”) by deception or to attempt to do so.

It is also a serious offence to conspire with others to commit any criminal offence. Even Inspector Clouseau would have a fair chance of feeling a collar or two here.

Bill Armer

Deighton

Fly-tipping in wood

FOLLOWING my ‘hardly noticeable’ comment of June 29, another comment on the Delves wood skirmishing saga followed it by L Hirst who quoted an anti-social tarnishing element.

For sure there is anti-social activity within these private woods but not presented by the Airsoft skirmishing activity within it.

It is the evident dumping/fly-tipping of garden refuse etc which is desecrating the ancient woodland.

This is anti-social yobbish behaviour by the perpetrators.

Mr Corcoran

Lockwood

POW camp memories

ALTHOUGH I now live in the Bristol area, from the age of two until 12 (1946-1956 ) I lived at 109 Crosland Road at Oakes which was very close to a prisoner of war camp.

I think it was an Italian one which I remember as a play area and shelter from the rain with my brother.

I believe the prisoners left shortly after 1946 and I do remember the camp was partly used for certain school lessons before being abandoned.

Consequently, we explored it and played there many times.

I wonder, therefore, if anyone still living in the Huddersfield area remembers it and/or its history?

Brian Charlton

Bristol

Sorry about the £1

I MUST apologise to the young lady (with children in her car) in the car park at Waterloo.

Thinking I was doing her a favour, I suggested that I return her trolley.

Taking it outside the store I then realised that it was a Marks & Spencer trolley with a £1 coin in it. I had assumed that it was a coinless system, as at Morrisons.

After I had struggled to retrieve the coin I dashed back to return the coin to the unfortunate lady.

Alas, she had left the car park, no doubt thinking she had encountered a very rude and opportunist person who, at her age, should have known better.

My sincere apologies.

Elsie M Eva

Lepton

A Fish in his own water

I WAS lucky enough to be present for the whole day last Friday at the Galpharm stadium spectacular showcase concert.

I witnessed all of the preparation and rehearsal of our incredibly talented schoolchildren amidst splendid organisation.

Then, Fish on percussion turned up. One could be forgiven for thinking that a young musician in his 20s, fresh off the back of huge television exposure, when faced by over 4,000 screaming schoolkids would be a tad egocentric.

Nothing could be further from the truth. He took every opportunity to sign autographs, pose for pictures and really encourage the kids.

Following his (and the kids) fantastic performance he no doubt swanned off to a swanky hotel for a good night’s sleep before being whisked off to the capital for more percussive escapades. Err, no.

Away from the glare of publicity, he slept at his mum’s, got up early and made an unannounced appearance at his old music centre in Colne Valley where he spent the whole morning playing along in the kids’ bands and thoroughly firing the kids up.

Can I say a huge thank you to local lad done well, Michael Fish.You are a massive credit to your profession. Your family are right to be incredibly proud of you.

It also goes without saying, a huge well done to our Kirklees musicians. You could do worse than follow in Fish’s footsteps.

Matt Delaney

Flockton

First class service

I OFTEN read letters in the Huddersfield Examiner criticising Royal Mail, but I ordered an item from a company in Birmingham at 5.30pm hours and, lo and behold, it was delivered to me by our trusted postie before 1pm hours the very next day.

First class service or what?

Ann Walker

Huddersfield