Iraq blame shifting from Mr Brown

IT WAS a predictable performance from the Prime Minister at the latest weak inquiry into the Iraq War – much faux contrition and much sincere deflecting of responsibility.

Mr Brown made much of how the Ministry of Defence's budget has increased in “real terms” and how all the additional costs of Iraq and Afghanistan have been funded separately – but this is a gross distortion of the facts.

The real facts are that the number of military personnel has been cut from around 210,000 to 190,000 under Labour. There have also been cuts in the number of warships, submarines, planes and, perhaps most crucially, helicopters.

Much of the money Labour has spent on the MoD has been wasted through poor procurement policies and appalling management – two recent reports echo this, the National Audit Office report – Performance of the Ministry of Defence (February 23, 2010) and the House Of Commons Defence Committee report – Defence Equipment 2010 (March 4, 2010). Perhaps most damming of all is the fact that a lot of the waste has been deliberate Labour policy – projects being delayed to save money in the short term.

Mark Bill, via email

Tory party funds

I WAS surprised to read that Wirral West Conservative Association had refused to comment on reports they had received thousands of pounds of funding from Lord Ashcroft (Wirral West Tories “clam up” over fighting fund cash boost, Liverpool Daily Post, March 5), because the Conservatives in Chester have not been so reticent.

As long ago as 2007, our local newspaper published an article in which the newly selected Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate welcomed a donation of £7,000 for posters and leaflets, and looked forward to receiving more from Lord Ashcroft. Since 2007, they have constantly lavished their literature upon the voters of Wirral West, Chester and many other target constituencies at a cost of many thousands of pounds and plenty more are expected in the near future.

Chester Labour Party, typical of the other target constituencies, cannot keep up with this expenditure since our donations come from our “tax paid” income.

I wonder how much Lord Ashcroft knows about the Wirral West and City of Chester constituencies. Has he ever lived in them or visited?

I hope that voters in this region will not be so daft as to believe that any of Lord Ashcroft's interests correspond with theirs', and will reject the advice given in his literature.

Alex Black, Chester

Council bonuses

RE: THE bonuses paid to 30 Liverpool City Council senior staff (Daily Post, March 5).

What a wonderful example it would set to their staff if they put the city first and refused the bonus.

I assume the bonus is a condition of service, so surely we should know who introduced it, when and how it is calculated.

In my opinion, no public employee merits more than £100,000 a year and bonuses should never exist.

These 30 senior staff have job security.

I hope we are told if other staff have a bonus condition of service.

George Powell, West Derby

Dangers at work

I AM writing to encourage employers, and employees, in Merseyside to think a little bit more about how they could prevent slips, trips and falls where they work. Last year, there were 318 major injuries in Merseyside and another 791 that led to employees having to take at least three days off work as a result of slips, trips or falls.

This is why the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in partnership with local authorities, is running its “Shattered Lives” campaign. It aims to raise awareness of the hazards and to encourage employers to take action to reduce the risks.

Actions as simple as changing the way floors are mopped, or making sure the right access equipment is used for work at height, may make a noticeable difference.

For more information, visit www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives.

Mike Cross, North West Head of Operations, HSE

So well behaved

RECENTLY, we took our granddaughter to the World Museum, which she thoroughly enjoyed.

We took our packed lunch to the eating area, which was full to capacity. There was a young family eating there who had at least four children with them, including twins. The dad and mum moved up for us and found two spare seats, he then offered his seat to my husband and he stood up to eat.

The children were a credit to them, so well behaved, which I complimented them on. You should be proud of your children and yourselves in this era of a lot of bad parenting. Where else would you see such courtesy, only Liverpool!

Mrs June Clayton, Haydock

Clowning around

AS NEW Brighton enters Phase 2 of its new life, spare a thought for the Clown. Deemed as irrelevant, a bad joke at best, it will soon be the sign that tells you, you have arrived.

I couldn't think of a better way to say “Welcome to New Brighton”.

Edmundo, Wallasey