Your views on politics, the Coronation, climate change and charity
Here are the letters from the Friday Lynn News of May 12, 2023...
Thanks to those who voted for me
I would like to thank everyone who voted for me on May 4.
Thanks also go to Wilf Lambert and Helen Dalgliesh - the two other Labour candidates - and Laurence, Peter, Julie and Christine for helping deliver the leaflets .
I am here to help my ward residents over the next four years.
Cllr Sandra Collop
Gaywood North Bank Ward
The public have shown their disdain
Wipeout! More than 1,000 Conservative councillors lost their seats in the latest local elections. Is this a record?
Readers may recall that following Liz Truss crashing of the UK economy and her subsequent resignation from 10 Downing Street, I warned that her colleagues would pay a high price for the utter chaos brought about by her forced resignation after just 44 days in office.
Well, the result from the voting public is clear – the electorate have shown their disdain for the past 13 years of one party rule.
Moreover, the former map of Tory blue – has now been replaced by a number of ‘other’ colours. Representing a far greater political diversity throughout East Anglia.
Many long-serving Tory councillors have expressed personal hostility in the media about Liz Truss – concerning her part in losing their seat(s) last week.
Indeed, whole swathes of local councils have been changed overnight by an unprecedented level of voter anger.
Speaking out vehemently against the Conservative Party in general – and Liz Truss in particular.
Which must be worrying to the Conservative Central Office hierarchy, only 18 months away from an important General Election. Although I suspect a number of Liz Truss’ erstwhile colleagues (behind the scenes) are demanding that the South-West Norfolk MP stands down before then, to avoid any more angry voter hostility towards Tory Party leader Rishi Sunak.
Jim Mitchell
via email
Will they actually be independent?
Firstly, congratulations to anyone who won a seat at the recent Borough elections and commiserations to those who didn't.
We're now likely to be seeing the early stages of back room political machinations to wrest the last vestiges of control from the Conservatives (where possible) by means of tactical voting, coalitions, and agreements to cooperate with the other factions.
Sadly, once again I fear that those who declared themselves independently minded 'independents' on the ballot paper will now once again be feeling it's oky to act and behave as a group or tacit 'Party' with other independents despite pretending otherwise on election literature and ballot papers.
Those among us sick and tired of the appallingly ineffectual political party system found themselves voting in great numbers for the independent candidate in their wards and I just hope these individuals are going to honour and respect the wishes of those who voted for their independent stance and don't take the same discredited road and act with their mates as just another pseudo-party.
Those who voted for an independent person will have assumed those men and women are operating under their own banners making their own individual decisions.
If we find these individuals are operating as a cohesive political group then I'd suggest they really do have to stop hiding their true colours, stop this dishonesty and declare it openly.
So, come on you independent. Have you disingenuously canvassed votes with the intentions of using those votes to act as a 'back door' Independent Party to flex your political muscles?
It's too late for honesty now... but are you truly independent thinking 'free spirits' or just another political 'groupthink' bloc masquerading as individuals on the ballot paper?
Steve Mackinder
Denver
My memories of the happy events of 1953
I was pleasantly surprised to read your article in last Friday’s Lynn News about my attendance at the 1953 Coronation.
I am now 88-years-old and it brought back happy memories of that day.
Every county Young Farmers Club in Great Britain were allocated two seats in a stand backing onto St James’ Park on the corner of the Mall.
Downham YFC won the draw for Norfolk and I was lucky to be nominated to represent Downham, and Barry Green (my second cousin by the way) joined me. I am unaware if he is still alive.
As we had to be in our seats by 7am, we stayed Monday night with a relative in London.
I remember getting very wet but it was worth it. Thank you for making my day.
Val Hawkins
via email
It’s about increasing populations
You have rightly prolonged the debate on Climate Change in these columns, and I would argue out of necessity, due to the false eco-protagonists spreading misleading information. I'm singling out one sentence of Jenny Walker, Viewpoint May 2, when she raised the argument of homes being vulnerable to flooding within the parameters of this vexed issue.
Houses at Hemsby falling into the sea is an ongoing process of coastal erosion going back centuries.
As for homes being flooded, it has got nothing to do with climate change. It is a human culpability with money orientated builders constructing multiple housing on unsuitable ground not conducive to heavy rainfalls.
Councils give planning permission with tunnel vision, thinking of revenue from council taxes.
Increasing populations put more residue into the atmosphere and the ecologists misleadingly apportion blame on the planet.
Countering this is about water management, especially the locality of the Fens, where there is an efficient drainage system, not Jenny's ideology. Near to where I live there is the Denver Sluice, where the operative word is technology, not climate phraseology.
David Fleming
Downham
Dealing with our anxieties
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems in the UK. In fact, a survey commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation in late 2022 found that a quarter of adults in the UK (25%) feel so anxious that it stops them doing the things they need, or want to do, most or all of the time. Six in ten adults feel this way at least occasionally.
That’s why, this Mental Health Awareness Week (May 15-21) we will be focusing on anxiety. We will be encouraging people to share their experiences, and what has helped, with the hashtag #ToHelpMyAnxiety.
By having a national conversation about anxiety during Mental Health Awareness Week, we hope people will better understand how anxiety is affecting them, what they can do to calm feelings of anxiety, and feel more comfortable in seeking support.
We invite people to find out more about anxiety and how to get involved in Mental Health Awareness Week by going to our website www.mentalhealth.org.uk/mhaw
There are several resources available including a downloadable publication with expert guidance on how to manage anxiety.
Alexa Knight
Mental Health Foundation
Hop, skip or wheel a mile
We are calling on nurseries and schools to join us for the Childhood Day Mile and raise vital funds to help keep children safe.
Childhood Day, on Friday, June 9, is our flagship day of fundraising where children and adults are encouraged to walk, hop, skip or wheel a mile to help raise money for children across the UK.
Were asking schools, organisations, families and friends across the East of England to sign up. Details on how to take part and help us raise funds for NSPCC projects can be found on the Childhood Day Hub and there are resources available to schools, nurseries and childcare groups that sign up. Whether it’s by fundraising, donating, volunteering at a collection or taking action, were asking people to play their part to help keep children safe from abuse.
Candia Cross
NSPCC
