Dear Editor,

IF I were Rachel Gilmour I think I would be less than pleased to have Benet Allen (Postbag, March 13) singing my praises while launching an ill-informed attack on the coverage the WSFP gives to Conservative campaigner, James Wright.

He performs a public service by unearthing and exposing the secretive and undemocratic behaviour of the Lib Dem County Council. The coverage Ms Gilmour receives in the paper is generous (I have speculated that she would attend the opening of an envelope) but she is our MP.

To assert that Wright is a “Phoney” farmer who doesn’t live on Exmoor is to challenge, without proof, what is clearly stated on his website - and on what basis can it be claimed that Conservative HQ hopes he will desert to Reform?

He is successfully exposing the shortcomings of the Lib Dems and the Labour government so that seems a ludicrous assumption. I sense signs of worry in the Gilmour camp that there is an effective Conservative voice making itself heard in the Tiverton and Minehead constituency... and when she isn’t wearing the £123.16, high-end, custom-made, hearing protection she has just charged to expenses... she may also hear it and learn something. I know PMQ’s in the House can become quite rowdy but...?

Yours sincerely,

Sandra Jones

Old Cleeve

Dear Editor,

I WAS delighted to see my campaigning on behalf of residents across West Somerset was picked up in a letter last week from former Liberal Democrat councillor Benet Allen.

He was right to identify my vocal opposition to the government’s changes to business rates, in addition to calling out the local MP to do more on rail connectivity and the B3191 at Watchet.

Benet is more than welcome to visit my farm where I would be happy to discuss why I believe families, businesses and pensioners are being let down by our Liberal Democrat representatives.

Kind regards,

James Wright

Exmoor

Dear Editor,

WELL done Sally Bainbridge for your excellent response in the West Somerset Free Press, March 13, objecting to the hair-brained scheme of Forelle's proposed Ellicombe round monstrosity (A39 petrol station). You have put your thoughts so succinctly, it was a pleasure to read and I agree with everything you have said.

Barbara Robinson

Minehead

Dear Editor,

THE government with the crisis over the Middle East oil are willing to help families, elderly, disabled, with energy bills for those less fortunate.

Everybody else who suffers pays higher bills, are taxed through the roof, plus paying ridiculous amounts of council tax.

The government are putting it to councils to help with the energy situation.

The councils who are better off will have to foot the bill and the other councils who waste communities’ hard-earned money will get out of helping communities.

So, the government are palming it off to councils so the government look like they are caring for people when at the end of the day all they think of is taxes and somebody else to blame as they waste as well.

The country is a disaster, the wrong people are running councils and government.

Linda Sparks

Williton

Dear Editor,

IT IS true that the NHS is not always transparent when patients suffer harm, as Baroness Amos has found in her probe into maternity safety. All too often the NHS does not adhere to its statutory duty of candour, which requires openness and honesty when things go wrong.

A lack openness prevents vital lessons from being learned to prevent needless harm, suffering, and heartbreak from being repeated. At the core of all NHS spending on litigation is negligence which could and should be avoided.

Failing to be honest also drives up the NHS’s bill for compensating patients and families. Cases drag on needlessly, and require much more work from victims’ lawyers because the NHS is holding on to all of the information about what happened. Often families are in the dark until they bring a claim.

The approach to patient safety is too fragmented. We have yet another investigation which highlights the human cost that comes with a lack of clear strategy to keep mums and babies safe. Strong leadership with clear links between patients, regulators, healthcare providers, and policymakers is needed desperately.

Guy Forster

Vice president, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers

Dear Editor,

Many families celebrated Mother’s Day, but for too many female cats, motherhood looks very different.

Cats Protection is campaigning to ensure cats are not forgotten by decision‑makers in England. As part of our Cat Manifesto, we are calling on Westminster to introduce regulations on cat breeding, and to ban the breeding of cats with extreme characteristics.

A lack of breeding regulations leaves female cats at risk of being used as breeding machines, producing multiple litters a year in poor and sometimes dangerous conditions. These cats are often kept solely for profit, with little regard for their health or wellbeing.

Stronger safeguards would help ensure female cats are better protected, and that anyone breeding cats meets clear welfare standards.

Motherhood matters - for humans and for animals. This Mother’s Day, we are asking readers to join us in calling for change, to give cat mums and their kittens the best lives possible.

The government has left cats behind by failing to include any regulation on cat breeding in the new Animal Welfare Strategy.

Readers can add their names to our open letter calling for urgent action here: action.cats.org.uk/page/184735/petition/1

Yours faithfully,

Annabel Berdy

Cats Protection advocacy and government relations manager