LIB Dem activist Tony Fisher either has the wrong end of the stick or it was a very low blow from him (Letters, October 9).

The fringe meetings of any party conference, including those at the Lib Dem conference, are a wild, wonderful hinterland full of speakers from all corners of the political spectrum pushing their thoughts and ideas.

For example, leftist Corbyn supporter Owen Jones was a prominent Conservative conference-goer last week. It’s a little difficult to say that his views are in any way representative of the Conservative Party.

Regarding the tired jibe Mr Fisher spouts that the Conservatives are the nasty party, I urge him to listen again to David Cameron’s keynote speech, taking particular care to note not only the subjects covered but the warm, enthusiastic response it received from the conference audience.

I dare you to call that speech, or the thousands of whom who welcomed it, nasty.

While all of the other parties are busy losing their heads, the Conservatives are keeping hold of theirs, thus I believe that the Conservatives have well and truly taken the common sense centre ground.

Darren J Sage, Mill Lane, Heworth, York

 

WE have seen it all before.

An issue whips up emotion. People react by offering token support to a cause. Bureaucrats and politicians placate them. The people then forget about the issue because it’s been replaced by the next crisis or the latest salacious gossip, or whatever takes their attention.

It is in this way that important things are forgotten about, especially in the Twitter age. Some battles take more than just a hashtag.

We need to focus our efforts on ensuring that the important issues are remembered rather than ones that are inconsequential or that we can do nothing about.

Please don’t allow Bootham Park Hospital to slowly fall into disrepair and become yet another abandoned building.

Keep pushing the bureaucratic overseers until they relent and offer funds to refurbish and reopen this important service.

Tom Thistlethwaite, Monkton Road, Heworth, York

 

REGARDING the furore over Jeremy Corbyn’s stance over Trident. In the past Tory readers have blasted Tony Blair for invading Iraq when there was no proof of weapons of mass destruction.

If there had been, Blair would have been vindicated and a hero, but there wasn’t so he was slated.

So, I ask those Tories who were against invading, why do you agree we should have Trident? Trident is a massive weapon of mass destruction.

They are hypocrites, just like the USA. We can have them, but no one else can.

Are you against or for? The answer is, whatever Corbyn’s for, they are against.

Dave Dunford, Heworth, York

 

IT is not safe to walk on York’s pavements because of cyclists.

In most cases, there are cycle tracks on the road. They seem to think they have right of way, regardless of pedestrians. It is happening all over York’s estates.

It is surprising there haven’t been more accidents with elderly people or people with disabilities.

I was alighting from a bus when a cyclist rode straight past the bus, nearly knocking me over. It is quite acceptable for toddlers, but not teenagers or adults.

Jane Addison, Plantation Drive, York

 

THE Press (October 5) confirmed what everyone in Selby has known ever since North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan’s weak denial in April 2015.

That is Selby’s existing police station will close and future police operations will be conducted from within the Selby District Council offices.

Considering the number of uniformed officers seen in the town, taking over one of the empty shop premises in Gowthorpe would have been a better idea, far cheaper and more accessible to citizens.

Peter Rickaby, West Park, Selby

 

REGARDING something to replace the fountain in Parliament Street. For what they do for us and for what we owe them, may I suggest a statue of a nurse, to represent all those who work in the NHS?

Alec Simpson, Wheatfield Lane, Haxby, York

 

HOPE springs eternal again around Anfield as this sleeping giant appoints a new manager, Jürgen Klopp. The ready-made headlines of “Klopp for the Kop” are everywhere. When he is sacked “Klopp the flop” will fill the sports pages.

Geoff Robb, Dunnington, York

 

DEAR huggers of York. I wanted to say a huge “thank you” to everybody who joined us at the hospice for the big Hug (The Press, October 9).

From patients families, soldiers, members of the fire and police service, children from Woodthorpe Primary School, staff from Tesco Askham Bar, Sainsburys Blossom Street and the NFU, to students from York College, to our long serving supporters and volunteers, as well as the team from Minster FM, and all the mascots who joined us.

We achieved our aim of forming a human chain all the way round the hospice and celebrating Hospice Care Week in our 30th year in a very special way.

You are now all part of the amazing history of St Leonard’s. You helped make the difference. Thank you.

Dawn Clements, Director of fundraising, St Leonard’s Hospice, Tadcaster Road, York