I WAS saddened to read the letter from Gary Craig regarding the planning refusal for the rebuild of York mosque (Letters, October 21) and his rather patronising comments suggesting a basis of racial prejudice for the various objections.

This is so typical of a generation of left-wing politics in this country where anybody who dare raise a reasonable objection against an issue relating to minorities is dismissed.

There is a long history of tolerance and an ingrained sense of fair play within the British people, which is why we have the most successful multiracial society in the world.

No reasonable person would wish to deny anybody the opportunity of following their particular faith. However, neither should we suffer a pro-minority bias in public decision making to the detriment of fairness and equal rights within the law.

Martin Smith, Main Street, Elvington, York.