YOUR leader column headed "Labour's class war on hunting" attempts to muddy the water in the current debate on hunting by raising that old chestnut, Britain's class war.

Western Morning News readers should know that the main reason I and many others oppose hunting with hounds is because of the cruel nature of the act, which not only wantonly destroys unique animals but also cheapens the hunters in their bloodlust.

How is the common decency of rural life and care of the natural environment enhanced by chasing foxes, stags, hares and other animals until they are exhausted and then allow dogs to rip them apart?

It does not matter a jot if the hunter is a Lord, the leader of the Conservative Party, my neighbour, the local dustman, or others – hunting is barbaric and should be banned.

I find your column's comments completely "political" in accusing the Government of ignoring the economic downturn and concentrating on class war. It's David Cameron et al who are pandering to the pro-hunting lobby and getting support in return.

Mr Cameron cannot hide the true face of his Tory Party by posing as a modern leader and then promising a free vote on repealing a law that protects creatures in the wild.

He cannot have it both ways. He boasts that he has single-handedly changed the Conservative Party for the better.

Well, if the Tory leader wants to spend countless hours on repealing the hunting with hounds law rather than helping the millions of needy people in Britain, the Tories remain the old landed elite with their historical contempt for Britain's hard-working majority.

Dr David Pedrick-Friend

Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Torbay Paignton

Eton? So what?

I READ that Gordon Brown seems to be very concerned about David Cameron's education, and that of some of his shadow cabinet – because, you see, some of them were educated at Eton. Well, I don't care if Mr Cameron went to Eton or the local council school, and I'm sure many others don't either.

I'm more interested in what happens after the election. If Mr Cameron is Prime Minister and has the ideas, policies, drive and initiative, together with his other ministers, to turn around our country and start to rectify the total mess 10 years of Labour has driven us into, who cares where he went to school?

If this is the only thing Gordon Brown can think of, instead of concerning himself with the real issues affecting our country, then the quicker he is voted out of the office the better.

O W Rogers

Bodmin

Car park breed

MARGARET Millman of Holsworthy (letter, December 22) was the victim of greed, a crime constantly perpetrated by local councils and their car park lackeys.

The kind lady who gave her an unexpired car park ticket had paid for the parking space for a set period of time and had chosen to donate the period she no longer needed to someone else.

By fining Margaret for parking in the ticket purchaser's space and using her unexpired ticket, the car park owners/managers were, in effect, selling a parking space twice for the same period – blatant profiteering in an area where the charges are already grossly over-inflated.

What the car park owners/managers should do is either accept the practice of people passing on unexpired tickets or stop anyone else using the space until the original ticket has expired. They shouldn't be allowed to have it both ways.

Additionally, to fine Margaret Millman purely on the basis of the statement "non-transferable" is at best odious and at worst downright illegal – and to actually film her "crime" to try to enforce this dubious statement is simply outrageous.

There is a growing trend in our local councils to use ever-increasing levels of technology to enforce the nefarious rules and regulations they impose on us all, and you have to question not only the commercial viability of this, but also the moral aspects of what are constant infringements of our various personal rights.

Mike John

Winkleigh

Pensions petition

CALLING all pensioners and those approaching pension age with Internet access – it is time to stand up and be counted.

A country-wide petition is now on the No 10 website at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/pensionoldage/ to try to get an increase in the old age pension, so please view if it possible.

To readers who have no Internet access, please could I suggest that you write to your Member of Parliament mentioning this petition and asking him or her to support it.

F E Sharpe

Plymouth

Diligent gritters

I HAD to take my wife to Musgrove Hospital, Taunton, on December 21 for an operation – this at a time when we had very wintry weather.

I congratulate all highway services for having the roads in such a safe state, and also the gritting of all paths at the hospital.

J Westersale

Minehead