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Don’t vote, don’t moan

With regard to all letters you have printed about parishes being forced on us, I would like to know how this can happen in this so called ‘democratic’ country?

Surely if the council need to raise extra money it would be more honest to just raise council tax. It seems that they are just trying to offload their responsibilities on to other people, thus creating another level of bureaucracy that needs to be paid for. If they then end up with less to do, they should obviously get a cut in their expenses, not a rise.

As for all the fuss about us leaving the EU, I always understood that it is assumed that people who choose not to vote will be happy with whatever the majority decide. If that is the case then the people happy with the decision to leave is actually a lot more than 52%.

We were always told if you don’t vote, don’t moan

PAULINE LITTLE

Rodbourne

Swindon

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Chilcot was genuine

IT WAS really good to see the findings of the long-awaited Chilcot enquiry were genuine and not the whitewash that many sceptical people, including myself had predicted.

It was a damming verdict for Tony Blair and his spin doctor Alastair Campbell, and his cabinet at that time.

Quite rightly so, many of the parents of service men and woman that were lost in a war that need not have happened are talking of taking legal action, if they are advised that there is a clear case for doing so.

I firmly believe, after viewing the recent Blair Rich project programme on Channel 5 TV that having to compensate these people would be more hurtful for Blair than anything else as he seems to have an incessant craving for wealth.

Quite rightly the clamour for Blair to be taken to a war crimes tribunal in The Hague grows ever louder.

Yet I fail to understand why it is being stated in the media that the institution in question is saying that it is not within its remit to do so.

I seem to recall that after another US-inspired war which saw the demise of Yugoslavia and simmering conflicts between the new nation states that were created as a result, and that continue to this very day, President Slobodan Miloševi? was spirited off to the Hague at the bequest of western powers.

Surely of it was good enough for Miloševi? then without doubt it certainly should be for Blair.

Blair, along with his US friends, is responsible for the deaths of a large number of Iraqis, and the message to Bush ‘I will be with you whatever’ was quite unforgivable.

I am now hoping that this country of ours will refrain from blindly following the US in to yet more conflicts inspired by them around the world.

It would seem that enough of our servicemen and women have died already for a war that should never have taken place.

It was stated on the TV that such illegal wars should never be allowed to happen in the future.

However, even as this was being spoken about there were extensive US lead NATO exercises taking place on Russia’s borders, along with the placement of WMD missiles in Romania and Poland targeted at them.

And it would again appear that America and its giant arms Corporations are touting for yet more profit from war.

There is one man that is now able to say ‘I told you so’ and that is the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has been fully vindicated in his stance against the illegal war at the time.

Maybe now the unjustified clamour from the Blairites and right wingers in his party for him to go will tail off, as he clearly deserves a chance.

Finally there is also unfinished business which was not mentioned by Chilcot, as only the most pertinent points were taken from the massive report.

It may well be hidden away somewhere in the pages – the reference to the mysterious death of weapons expert Dr. David Kelly, as there are remaining questions over the circumstances to this very day. Who knows what took place during the ‘Blair Huddle’ behind closed doors which was kept continuously secret from parliament at the time.

GA WOODWARD

Nelson Street

Swindon

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Control of borders

MAY I start by sending a message of our deepest sympathy from the people of Britain to the all families of those affected by the shocking recent terrorist attack on the peaceful people of Nice?

It is the government’s duty to keep the people of Britain safe. The only way do this is to have secure borders.

The problems in Nice highlight the dangers of the free movement of people.

It is time for all borders to have passport checks to see that the person is safe to enter the country.

This would benefit all citizens in all countries of the world.

TERRY HAYWARD

20 Burnham Road

Swindon

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Vote for the future

WHEN the voters of Swindon go to the polls next May they will know that almost every leisure activity or site has been leased off. They will know that every child care centre in the town has been shut, by next May around 11 of the libraries will also be shut with the other four just marking time. They will know that local services like grass cutting are now the problem for the local parish councils, and the back door tax is part of the solution.

They will also know that the council is just a year away from a debt of around £300 million. So when they read that the council leader thinks the new pay rise is not for turning down, or that he thinks that it is not worth the point of discussion then they must vote for the future of this town and not the snouts in the trough. Only one person with his head held high. Shame on the rest.

T REYNOLDS

Wheeler Avenue

Swindon

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What now Mr Cameron?

I MUST confess to a very bad mistake on my part. Not unusual, regarding the emotions of all complex human beings. I put Duplicitous Dave’s £9 million leaflet to remain in the Disunion at our expense aside. I intended to send it back to him after the British democratic exit vote, by registered letter to 10 Downing Street with the internet smiling face and the words Gotcha. With my full name and address on it.

But after coming back from holiday in Devon and due to various family health problems that took up my time, by the time I got around to it, Disappearing Dave had gone. Now I read that he intends to remunerate his failed advisors with excessive payments at taxpayers’ expense. Par for the course on that one, Mr Cameron.

Let us ponder on this multi-millionaire failed politician’s future, to paraphrase the song, where do you go to Sir, when you are alone in your bed?

Rather you than I, Mr Cameron. The old chestnut rings true. You cannot take your wealth with you when you face the inescapable facts of nature and the end of your existence in this dimension.

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way

Covingham

Swindon

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Nasty Party is back

OUR new Prime Minister promises ‘prosperity for all.’ From this I gather that the previous austerity measures were not really required. It’s all been simply the usual Tory ideology?

The Nasty Party never really left did it? I’ve little doubt that it will return in the near future with a different serpent’s head to continue the demolition of the welfare state.

JEFF ADAMS

Swindon

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Prom fun for all?

ALTHOUGH I was probably involved in Education and Youth Development at the time, I cannot recall when The Prom was introduced as a way of marking the end of Year 11, the exams and the moving on of that generation of teenagers.

Committees of Y11s in each school were formed, and still are, to organise their event with support from teachers. Attendance was and is still up to the individual. Because of the real or supposed stress of the exam year, parents are easily persuaded to spend on dresses and suits and other Prom essentials.

The happy Prom pictures in the Adver show us some of Swindon’s young adults in party mood before the dreaded results arrive in mid-August.

I do wonder though how inclusive the 21st century Prom is and what proportion of the Y11s in each school choose not to attend and for what reason.

JOHN DAVIES

Byron Avenue

Royal Wootton Bassett

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Gentleman boxer

AFTER reading the write up (SA July 18) on Kelvin Young’s last match in London on Saturday night July 16 and how disappointed he was after winning on points up to the last minute of the 10th round only for the ref to stop the fight, yes Kelvin you must have been gutted after months of graft

All that training to have the decision wrenched away from you is a crying shame, but you reacted like the true gentleman you are. After the match Kelvin and a few others went to a well known Indian restaurant at the top of town for a meal.

I was sat on the next table to Kelvin’s party after a long day at Newbury Races with my wife Lisa, Joss my brother-in-law and his partner Amanda. Kelvin and I know each other through family ties so I don’t wish to sound biased and even though he must have felt low after all that had happened that night, he still shook people’s hands and had a chat.

He must have explained over and over again to different people but allowed himself to be approachable to anyone who wanted to shake his hand, no airs or graces.

That’s what makes a gentleman boxer.

Kelvin you are a credit to Swindon, to all who know you and most of all a credit to your family.

JOHN L CROOK

Haydon Wick

Swindon