Dear Editor,

My goodness! What an exercise in hyperbolic outrage you printed from Sandra Jones.

My letter was a criticism of Rachel Gilmour, MP, for focusing on ‘parochial’ matters. We have local authorities to do that. Mrs Gilmour is elected to our National Parliament; to represent us on that greater stage. Somehow, Ms Jones managed to turn that criticism into an “echo” of “the call to overthrow our government made by Elon Musk.”

I was completely unaware of Mr Musk’s call in this regard: and, all my letter did, was to point to the increasing awareness, on the part of the patriotic British public, that we now have an alternative to the current Globalist Parliament. We can elect a Party which believes in our ‘Nation-States’ (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales), and their confederation as The United Kingdom.

Certainly, the Liberal-Democrats don’t believe in that status: remember Jo Swinson. Labour certainly don’t believe in that status: and the Tories don’t even know the meaning of ‘conservatism’.

Sandra Jones’ letter is archetypical of the heated rage we are learning to expect from those on the Far Left of British Politics. My prediction is that this is going to become much, much, worse. It seems the murderer of Charlie Kirk was on the Far Left: whilst we have just had the atrocity at the Heaton Park Synagogue, committed by a Syrian (presumably devout – in Islamic terms – Muslim) man. The links between Islam and the Far Left have been there, for us all to see, on the streets of our major cities, since October 7, 2023.

Sincere regards,

Mark Dyer

Wiveliscombe

Dear Editor,

This is a big thank you to all the lovely people who attended our Macmillan Coffee Morning on September 25 in Carhampton Village Hall.

We made the amazing amount of £801. Which well exceeds our usual donation.

This is such a wonderful total for this well deserving Charity, which unfortunately many of us have relied on through worrying times, concerning cancer.

Special thanks to everyone who helped on the day, donated raffle prizes, and gave donations , you are all wonderful.

Yours sincerely,

Mave Kedward

Carhampton

Dear Editor,

I have this week received my postal ballot papers for the upcoming LOCAL election, for Dunster and Alcombe, to be held on October 23.

On reading the ballot paper I was horrified to see that the Labour and Reform candidates were allowed not to say where they live, and just to put "address in Somerset".

This is a LOCAL election and I do not want to be represented by someone who could be living in Bath, Frome or Chard. It should be compulsory to disclose where the candidates live so that the voters know where the people standing are from.

This is, after all, a LOCAL election, and we should be represented by people who live and work here, and know and understand the want's and need's of the voters of Dunster and Alcombe.

Nigel Padfield

Minehead

Dear Editor,

As we returned from a joyous reunion of the twinning group in St Berthevin, I was struck by the sad spectacle of the miserable flags at Ellicombe roundabout; falling off, wrapped round bushes, limp and tawdry.

Unlike the proud display of our flag together with that of France and Italy celebrating 35 years of friendship and mutual support , it is hardly a welcoming sight.

Whatever the intention of those putting them up, it just looks an untidy mess. It is sad that the council has to make a tentative apology for taking down the town displays, lest it be used as an excuse for abuse.

Name and address supplied.

Dear Editor,

This year’s World Mental Health Day focuses on access to services. Everyone, including young people, must be able to protect their mental health by accessing vital public care services.

The government’s Mental Health Bill, now in its final parliamentary stages, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to give children and young people the right level of autonomy over their care.

The Law Society is urging the government to include a ‘child competence’ statutory test to the Bill to determine when under 16s can make decisions about their own mental health care. This test must not be hidden in a Code of Practice as these only reflect the law; they are not enough on their own to change the law. Currently, England and Wales have no consistent approach for determining child competence. The government must amend the Bill and add this test for child competence now to protect their rights.

Access to good mental health services is vital at every age and must be made available to all.

Mark Evans

President of the Law Society of England and Wales