Chairman in the Media

No vote for us

SIR - I would like to name and shame our three Bradford MPs who voted last week to deny their constituents of Bradford and the UK a vote on the EU Lisbon Treaty, more commonly known as the EU Constitution.

Gerry Sutciffe, Terry Rooney and Marsha Singh all voted against the amendment to allow a referendum on the EU treaty, even though they were elected at the last general election on a manifesto promise that they would grant the people a vote on this very important constitutional issue.

These people are not interested in listening to the public, at least not until the next election, when they will all come out of the woodwork and pledge more things they have no intention of delivering.

I was pleasantly surprised to see 14 Lib-Dem MPs defy their leader and a three-line whip and vote to allow the people a voice. Remember, the Lib-Dems also promised a referendum on the EU treaty.

People are notorious for having short memories, but I hope the people of Bradford will remember the betrayal by their MPs. Maybe we should all refuse to cast votes for them in return.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 14/03/08

Change the law

SIR - I read with interest the article Rise in birth defects is top priority' (T&A, February 14) relating to marrying first cousins.

MP Ann Cryer called for community leaders to encourage debate to move more families away from marriages between cousins. I would like to see the Government go further.

If the evidence is there that marrying cousins increases the chances of having children with disabilities, which it seems it is, then the practice should be outlawed.

Once the Government has given in to public pressure to outlaw forced marriage, which in itself is probably at least partly responsible for people marrying cousins, the next stage must be to make the marrying of cousins illegal.

The hurdle for the Government is going to be their and the EU's support of multiculturalism, which allows these traditions to operate.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 10/03/08

Cameron is just talking tough

I WAS interested to read that David Cameron has denounced forced marriages.
Of course, Mr Cameron is correct; the 300 cases a year are almost certainly the tip of the iceberg and it is a disgrace that New Labour allows this vile tradition to operate in Britain.
It is always nice to see Mr Cameron borrowing another one of our policies but I wonder if anyone actually believes that he believes this?
I think the real reason for the announcement is more to do with Cameron's thought that the city is vital in his party's battle to win the next General Election.
Even if Mr Cameron was going to follow through on outlawing forced marriages, then he would still have to go cap in hand to the EU and ask if he could do it. Remember, by 2009 we are governed by the parliament in Brussels.
How genuine is David Camer-on? Well, even though his party is trying to talk tough on the EU treaty he has categorically refused to hold a referendum on the EU should his party come in to power. I think there lies the answer.

Jason Smith, (chairman, UK Independence Party, Bradford), Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Halifax Courier, 07/03/08

WOULD IT BE FAIR TO STORE DNA OF THE INNOCENT?

It Was good to see the killer of Sally Anne Bowman brought to justice, but I cannot support calls to have every citizen's DNA stored on a national database.

The detective who led the investigation said because the killer Mark Dixie's DNA was on the existing database and he was convicted through DNA technology, it justifies recording everyone's DNA.  Firstly, this killer was already on the DNA database because presumably he had previously committed a crime.

Having a convicted criminal's DNA is perfectly acceptable, but should innocent people also be treated like criminals?

Let us also remember, just because DNA is a match, it is not conclusive proof of anything.

DNA can easily be passed from person to person by simply brushing by them and there is even a suggestion some criminals intentionally drop other people's DNA at crime scenes.

And before everybody starts writing in and saying 'if you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear', just consider this.

If you subscribe to that view, then would you be willing to have a microchip implanted in your body to track you? This would also reduce crime, but would also severely reduce your freedom!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party, Yorkshire regional secretary, Bradford.

Scunthorpe Telegraph, 06/03/08

More ‘evidence’

SIR - Brian Holmans argues that I never provide evidence against the dangers of the EU (T&A, February 25). I would take issue with that but let me offer some evidence' for Mr Holmans to chew over. The EU is clearly undemocratic. Legislation can only be proposed by the EU Commission which is appointed rather than elected. The only body elected is the EU parliament and it has no legislative power. It could also be argued we do not vote for MEPs themselves, as we vote for the party rather than the person.

The EU is essentially run via big business though their lobbying of the legislative body, the Commission. A good example of this is the draconian food legislation from the EU. We have already seen hundreds of safe, natural health remedies banned to make way for the big pharmaceuticals' synthetic alternatives.

Then you've got the EU's wealth of draconian legislation. There are too many to mention but they include the EU arrest warrant where you can be extradited to another EU country with no evidence and then there's the EU ID card which the old parties won't tell you about!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 05/03/08

New Labour of laughs

SIR - Another day, another government scandal. This week's instalment of what is increasingly looking like a New Labour stand-up comedy show was based around rendition flights or 'torture' flights to the man in the street.

In 2005, 2006 and 2007 then Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Prime Minister Tony Blair, left, stated on numerous occasions that: "there was no evidence that rendition flights had stopped on UK territory".

The scene moves to 2008 with current Foreign Secretary David Milliband announcing: "well let me put this in a slightly different way; yes there is evidence".

The show would be funny if it was fictional, but unfortunately we are talking about real life and serious issues.

I hear one of the stars of the New Labour comedy, Tony Blair, is preparing to star in a new comedy show, entitled 'EU President'. That is sure to be a ratings disaster!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 28/02/08

Mosquitos not answer

I WAS concerned to hear that the Spen Valley area committee has granted funding for two more "mosquito" devices.
I totally support the ban on these devices as proposed by children’s commissioner Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green as I don’t believe this is the right way to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Apparently these devices can only be heard by people under the age of 25, so are Kirklees Council saying that everyone under 25 is a nuisance?

If you listened to the media you might well think this is the case, but of course it’s not true, the majority of young people are decent and law abiding.

Is it fair to attack all youngsters because of a few troublemakers?

As these devices seems to have more affect on younger people, has anyone wondered what effect these might have on babies or small children, or are these areas to be “no-go” for people with young children?

The reality is, these devices will not stop anti-social behaviour, they will just relocate it.

Instead of purchasing more mosquitoes, wouldn’t it be better for Kirklees council to increase the police presence in these troubled areas?

JASON SMITH, Chairman, UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY BRADFORD

Spenborough Guardian, 22/02/08

Wrong solution to dental problems

SIR - I shook my head when I read Minister reopens fluoride debate' (T&A, February 5). Isn't this the same debate they opened last year and the year before?

MP Alan Johnson said: "Whenever the public are tested on this question, they believe there should be fluoridation".

This is completely at odds with the truth; in every area where fluoridation has been proposed the people have soundly rejected it.

On the health implications Mr Johnson said: "There is absolutely no clinical evidence whatsoever that links fluoridation with anything other than fluorosis".

That is untrue. Indeed, water fluoridation has been linked to skeletal fluorosis, bone cancer, bladder cancer, but most worryingly, in China's human studies, they found damage to brain tissue.

Even if this wasn't true, the minister admitted water fluoridation caused (dental) fluorosis which is damage to the teeth enamel? So rather than improve dental hygiene fluoridation does the opposite.

The government claims the teeth of children in Bradford and Airedale are in a very bad state. If that is true, could I suggest they ensure everybody in the district can have access to a dentist.

Now that might improve dental health!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 20/02/08

Destructive policies

I WAS concerned to read that forced marriages in Bradford had topped 400 last year, it was even suggested that the figure could be much higher.

The article highlighted a case of a 14 year old girl who was “married off”. As she was under age, I would hope the girl’s family and groom were prosecuted, as this clearly is not acceptable in our culture. It really is about time the government acted to stop this foul tradition as the once- tolerant British society is beginning to lose its rag.

Forced marriage is just another by-product of the destructive policies of multiculturalism, letting minority groups play by their own rules is clearly not a good idea. Could we imagine how much worse this might get if we introduced some aspects of Sharia Law in to Britain as some are proposing?

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman

Huddersfield Examiner, 16/02/08

'Sack city centre plan boss' call
By Fiona Evans

The UK Independence Party (UKIP) in Bradford has called for the resignation of the boss of the city's regeneration company.
Following a heated meeting earlier this week when Bradford Centre Regeneration (BCR) chiefs clashed with members of the public over plans for the city centre, UKIP wants to see BCR chief executive, Maud Marshall, step down from her post because of what it calls "BCR's failure to deliver on their plans to regenerate Bradford."

UKIP Bradford chairman, Jason Smith, was among over 200 people who attended the meeting which included a presentation on the regeneration company's plans for the future and the progress it has made in the past five years.

Mr Smith said: "The presentation was very professional, but it was only a vision of what they intended to deliver – after five years in charge they have achieved virtually nothing of substance in Bradford.

"What kind of business would bulldoze an entire area of the city without any firm assurances of when or if the development could be delivered; this is sheer incompetence on the part of the Bradford Centre Regeneration. Their failure to consider saving the iconic Odeon building goes to prove that their claims of listening to the people of Bradford are simply untrue.

"It was clear from the BCR event that they are no further forward with their regeneration plans and that they have failed miserably to engage the people of Bradford. It is clear that somebody must take responsibility for this debacle."

BCR, which was set up in February 2003 to spearhead the renaissance of the city centre including plans for a multi-million Park at the Heart scheme around the city hall, came under fierce criticism earlier this week.

A spokesperson for Bradford Centre Regeneration, said: "Mr Smith clearly misunderstood the information that was presented on Monday night as he has omitted key elements that were discussed and has made assertions and claims that are factually inaccurate."

The company declined to expand on which part of Mr Smith's claims and assertions it felt were "factually inaccurate."

On Monday, a panel, which included Bradford Council leader Coun Kris Hopkins,BCR chief executive Maud Marshall and regeneration agency Yorkshire Forward's director of environment Jan Anderson, faced heckling and applause as they fielded questions on controversial plans to tear down Bradford's former Odeon cinema and replace it with a development called New Victoria Place which will include a hotel, restaurants and bars.

Angry residents also demanded to know when Bradford Council would set a deadline for construction work to begin on the city's long-awaited Broadway shopping centre which is being developed by Westfield.

The council has the power to buy back the land and seek another developer if it believes Westfield cannot take it forward but Bradford Council chief executive, Tony Reeves, refused to divulge any timescale for such action.

Westfield development director, Neil Huntington, told the meeting the firm means to complete the project by 2010.

Yorkshire Post, 14/02/08

Flabbergasted by sharia claims

I WAS flabbergasted to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams suggest that the adoption of some sharia law in the UK seemed "unavoidable"?
He went on to say the UK had to "face up to the fact" some citizens did not relate to the British legal system.

I am afraid if some citizens cannot relate to our legal system, this is a problem for them to deal with, maybe if they cannot accept our laws they need to consider if they really want to continue to reside here.

To suggest that we should somehow introduce new 'foreign' laws to appease minority groups is frankly quite ridiculous.

As a Christian I am absolutely disgusted that the leader of the Church of England is proposing the implementation of Muslim (sharia) law in the UK.

I think Dr Williams should remember he is supposed to be a representative of the Church of England.
Isn't it time the Church of England had a proper leader who worried more about the interests of Christians? Maybe it is time to appoint a new Archbishop of Canterbury; I would like to nominate the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu for that role.

JASON SMITH, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Spenborough Guardian, 14/02/08

Decent people

SIR - Eric Firth is at it again. This time he's taking a shot at the US who he claims are an evil nation! (T&A, February 9).

Whether you agree with the US foreign policy of randomly bombing nations, which I don't actually, the US nation is not evil, I have many friends in the US and they are good, decent people. You can't blame them for their government's foreign policy.

Mr Firth then continues that the people of the UK are no better; he seems to think we are evil' also.

Mr Firth finishes by saying that adding the picture of Alf Garnett to our 50p coin would please UKIP and the Tories. That would be a novel idea, but we can stick with Britannia.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 14/02/08

Let us vote

SIR - In 2005, the Labour party gave a manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution.

However, they now refuse to allow the public vote on the Lisbon Treaty.

The public must understand that the two documents are almost identical. So much so, that the author of the EU Constitution has said: "99 per cent of the wording" of the Lisbon Treaty is identical to the EU Constitution.

Therefore, if the Labour party had an ounce of moral fibre, it would keep its 2005 manifesto pledge and give the British people a vote on this extremely important issue.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 14/02/08

We've no faith in Archbishop

If some citizens cannot relate to our legal system this is a problem for them to deal with.
Maybe if they cannot accept our laws they need to consider if they really want to continue to reside here.

JASON SMITH, Bradford

The Sun, 12/02/08

Freedom of speech

I WOULD like to reply to the letter from Mohammed Shafiq (Guardian January 21), spokesman for the Ramadhan Foundation.

The letter was entitled 'A duty to work together' and I agree all communities need to work together to create social cohesion.

I was flabbergasted to read that Mr Shafiq believes in freedom of speech, when on the very radio show where we met he advised us he was reporting Bishop Nazir-Ali to the police for inciting religious hatred.

Does Mr Nazi-Ali not deserve freedom of speech? Obviously he thinks not.

Mr Shafiq continues to claim that nobody could provide him any evidence of no-go areas for non-Muslims, indeed I provided an example of an area of Bradford where on five consecutive nights the fire brigade were attacked.

The local Bradford councillor stated that he would speak to the local mosques for help with this problem.

Virtually every contributor to the debate provided examples for Mr Shafiq which he refused to accept, even though he did not know the areas concerned.

Mr Shafiq could not accept that some of these examples could have been religiously motivated?

Would Mr Shafiq not accept, for example, that the 'cartoon' protests in London were religiously motivated?

Jason Smith, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford.

Beverley Guardian, 08/02/08

Only let in fluent English speakers

IT was recently announced that immigrants settling in Bradford for a long period will be targeted to have English lessons to improve community cohesion.
At the risk of sounding like some poor Tory election slogan, I am thinking what everyone else is thinking. Why are we allowing people in to our country who cannot speak English?
The answer is, of course, because we no longer control our national borders. Maybe the Government should have considered "community cohesion" before allowing the EU to give residence in Britain to 500 million people!
The native people are then further insulted by the revelation that immigrants only have to pay 37.5 per cent towards English lessons, so the council had better dig in to our council tax pockets for the rest.
Then there are the hidden costs of interpreters in Bradford and the costs of printing literature in many languages. That runs in to millions of pounds that could be much better spent.
No immigrant should be allowed in Britain if they are not fluent in the English language.
Community cohesion could be achieved over a very short period by abolishing the segregation policies of multiculturalism.

Jason Smith, (Chairman, UK Independence Party, Bradford), Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Halifax Courier, 06/02/08

LABOUR PARTY SHOULD KEEP MANIFESTO PLEDGE

In 2005, the Labour Party gave a manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution. However, they now refuse to allow the public vote on the Lisbon Treaty.

The public must understand the two documents are almost identical. So much so, that the author of the EU Constitution has said, '99 per cent of the wording' of the Lisbon Treaty is identical to the EU Constitution. Therefore, if the Labour Party had an ounce of moral fibre, it would keep its 2005 manifesto pledge and give the British people a vote on this extremely important issue.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Yorkshire Regional Secretary, Queensbury, Bradford.

Scunthorpe Telegraph, 06/02/08

Money talks

SIR - I thank our US contributor Diane Duguid for bringing to our attention the fact that the Government is planning to remove Britannia from the back of our 50p pieces (T&A, January 30).

She wonders what is going on with our money. Well the Government is now trying to slowly phase out anything British, because by January 2009 we shall no longer be an independent country but a state of the European Union. They probably feel there is no point in Britannia if there is no Britain.

Diane's fellow citizens in the US must be experiencing a similar erosion of tradition as President Bush recently signed up to the North American Union, the US equivalent of our European Union.

She should also be aware that all her US coins could soon be gone as the North American Union's 'Amero' will replace them.

Diane also advised that 650 people leave England each month. The actually figure is closer to 16,500 citizens leaving our shores every month for a better life.

I personally know dozens of people who have already "got out" and dozens more who are queuing up.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 05/02/08

A step too far

SIR - It has been announced that ministers are planning to implant microchips under the skin of thousand of offenders as part of an expansion of the electronic tagging scheme to keep criminals out of prison.

Having a tag, either on an individual's ankle or in their body will not prevent them from perpetrating another crime. It will only tell the authorities where the next crime is committed!

These are the same tags used around the world to keep track of dogs, cats and cattle. We will be told these chips are only to be used for nasty criminals. I fear this could be another thin end of the big brother wedge.

First they came for the paedophiles - I did not speak out as I deplore those people.

They then came for people who refused to sign up for an ID card - I did not care, I had an ID card.

They came for people who could not afford to pay their pay-as-they-go road tax - I did not speak out, I always pay my taxes.

Then they came for me, and there was nobody left to speak out for me!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 30/01/08

Give us our say

SIR - I wholeheartedly agree with Graham Hoyle (T&A, January 25) when he congratulates Keighley MP Ann Cryer for adding her name to the motion demanding a referendum on the EU Constitution treaty.

The Government has told its backbenchers they must vote through this treaty, so hats off to Ann Cryer for her bravery.

She will, no doubt, be joined by our other decent MP Philip Davies who has also bravely given up any chance of serving on the Tory front bench because of his pro-UK stance, instead choosing to stand up for democracy and our sovereignty.

This goes to prove this is not a party political issue, it's an issue of whether you believe in democracy and that the UK should be governed by a British Government.

Whatever your political leaning, and even if for some reason you support the concept of an undemocratic centralised EU, you must agree that every party should honour its manifesto pledge to grant the British people a referendum.

Remember what "real Labour" MP Tony Benn has said: "Our sovereignty belongs to the people, not to the Parliament. Our sovereignty is not the Parliament's to give away!"

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 29/01/08

Wake-up call

SIR - I must confess I am not a fan of US TV, but I was heartened when I tuned in to the coverage of the campaign for the Republican nomination and witnessed candidate Ron Paul breaking the Republican Party fundraising record with more than $6 million raised in just 24 hours.

This is all the more fantastic when you consider he is virtually ignored by the mainstream media and not backed by big business. His support is totally grassroots.

He is saying what people think! It makes me proud to be a libertarian.

It also tells you two other things: 1) The old corrupt parties ignore the will of the people at their peril. Eventually they will wake up and this is clearly happening in the US.

2) Don't judge a man by his party. Mr Paul is a member of the same party as George Bush but they are clearly worlds apart on policy, intellect and debating ability.

It is now also time for the people of the UK to wake up as we are moving ever closer to what people are calling the post-democratic era, that being our assimilation into the EU.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 28/01/08

Time to act over forced marriages

THE murder investigation continues in to the death of Shafilea Ahmed, the teenager found dead after refusing an arranged marriage, and it is not yet clear who killed her, but this tragic situation again raises questions over forced marriage in our country.
Of course you have to be careful to not confuse an arranged marriage with a forced marriage but we should also remember that an arranged marriage can turn quickly in to a forced marriage if, for example, the bride does not agree to it.
Isn't it time the Government made a stand against this foul tradition and put the safety of young women before their fear of upsetting some minority groups?
I think we should all, regardless of political leaning, take our hats off to MP Ann Cryer for the work she has done in this field. She has taken some flak but to her credit has kept up the fight.

Jason Smith, (chairman, UK Independence Party, Bradford), Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Halifax Courier, 26/01/08

Answer to what treaty means to the UK

SIR - Stuart Baker accuses me of going off half cocked (T&A, January 22) with regard to the Government's admission that the EU police force under the direction of Brussels could operate in Britain.

Indeed, I provided a quote where Foreign Secretary David Milliband refused to say foreign police would not be allowed to operate in our country.

Mr Baker argues that because we have not 'yet' officially signed up to this treaty that it could not apply to us.

He states there were only five signatories at the summit. Since then, though, a number of other EU countries have joined the original five states in embracing the EU police force, including Poland, Romania and Lithuania and the non-EU state Turkey.

I would like to remind Mr Baker of another treaty which is being discussed in parliament, the EU Lisbon Treaty (aka EU Constitution). It is self-amending. I think there lays the answer of whether this treaty will apply to the UK!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 25/01/08

Question of force

SIR - The Lisbon summit did not only see the signing of the 'renamed' EU Constitution but also another treaty that should be of great concern to the people of Britain. It was a treaty establishing the European Gendarmerie Force (EU Police Force).

Under the terms of the treaty, the force can operate across national borders and would be above the national police forces, answering only to the Government in Brussels. They could be deployed by the EU for any "security and public order missions".

In a parliamentary question on the EU force, MP Bob Spink asked the Foreign Secretary: "Will he give an undertaking that it (European Gendarmerie Force) will never be allowed to operate on British soil?"

The Foreign Secretary's answer was very telling: "I am happy to reassure him that a nation must give its consent before any operation can be held in it."

Rather than rule out the possibility, David Milliband actually specified the manner in which it could operate.

If somebody would have told you a few years ago that a foreign police force would be allowed to operate in our country under their rules, you would have said they were crazy.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 18/01/08

Party piece

SIR - Andrew Clarke (T&A, January 10) is right on the money when he talks about all the parties competing for the middle ground.

This political consensus cannot be good for the people and is surely feeding the political apathy in Britain. When people say all parties are the same, they are not far wrong.

I share Mr Clarke's views that people are crying out for a return to traditional Conservatism. Unfortunately there is no Conservative' party; they have been replaced by a confused socialist green party. It really is very sad.

I implore the people to review the old party's policies; it is not the same party that their parents or their parents before them voted for. As long as people continue to vote in this way our country will continue to degenerate.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 17/01/08

Offences of theft on the rise

I was perusing Bradford's recorded crime statistics for last year.
I noticed that burglary of a dwelling had risen by 9.59 per cent, theft from a vehicle had risen by 10.35 per cent and robbery had risen by a massive 18.95 per cent.
I then wondered if that might have had anything to do with the Government policy of no longer imprisoning non-violent offenders.
Probably just a coincidence!

Jason Smith, (chairman, UK Independence Party, Bradford), Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Halifax Courier, 17/01/08

Target for debate

SIR - We have to thank the Lords again for holding the government to account over their decision to allow the RAF site near Harrogate to play a part in the US National Missile defence scheme (T&A, January 10).

I am surprised it has taken this long for anyone to notice that the government sneaked in this announcement. Defence Secretary Des Browne actually revealed this in a written statement just prior to the MPs knocking off for their summer holidays.

The Government keeps banging on about open debate but they never actually seem to do it themselves.

I am neither for nor against this at the moment and would therefore welcome a debate. To me it all depends on whether the UK will benefit from this missile system.

If we are just to be, as some suggest, an 'unprotected' listening site then I would suggest it is not in our interests.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 16/01/08

Green belt grab

Sir - Our esteemed council leader Kris Hopkins is trying to exonerate himself of any blame for the number of new homes slated to be built in Bradford and the subsequent loss of some of our green belt (T&A, January 11).

Mr Hopkins is not only Bradford's representative on the Yorkshire Regional Assembly but he is also the Chairman of the Regional Housing Board.

I have no doubt that Mr Hopkins is indeed concerned about the loss of green belt which I'm sure will equate to a loss of subsequent election votes should he be seen to support this green belt grab.

I wonder how Mr Hopkins intends to protect our green belt, when his own party are happy to have our borders wide open to every single citizen of Europe (approx 500 million). What does he expect immigrants to do? Live in tents?

I'm afraid you can't have it both ways, Mr Hopkins. If you support open borders, you surely have a duty to house them? If you do not support open borders, then I'm afraid you need to look for a new party.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 15/01/08

'No-go' bishop has right to speak

Whether you agree with Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali's warning about no-go areas in Britain for non-Muslims and the dangers of multiculturalism, everyone must agree that he has a right to air his views, a right to freedom of speech.

That view is not shared by Mohammed Shafiq, of the Ramadhan Foundation, during a radio debate with me in which I provided examples of no-go areas.

He informed us he was referring Bishop Nazir-Ali's comments to the police as he believed the bishop was inciting religious hatred.

Somebody needs to point out to Mr Shafiq that we have freedom of speech in Britain, something we are very proud of.

Unfortunately Mr Shafiq has done his cause no favours at all. He is just proving once again that certain Muslim groups are unable to accept any form of criticism.

Bishop Nazir-Ali made a good point that "the novel philosophy of multiculturalism" is allowing society to become more deeply divided, a view I and many agree with.

Let us all support Bishop Nazir-Ali and his right to freedom of speech.

Jason Smith, (Chairman, UK Independence Party, Bradford and District), Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury.

Halifax Courier, 11/01/08

Keep data at home

SIR - David Rhodes suggests people are making a mountain out of a molehill regarding the loss of three million learner drivers' details in the US (T&A, December 24).

Of course the details lost are not bank details and the like, but the point is that they could have been and I think people are right to be concerned.

I wonder how long it will be before data from the government ID database the National Identity Register is "mislaid" or lost.

I would also like to know, why our citizens' data is being sent abroad to a private contractor for processing. Surely UK data should be processed here by a government agency and not by a foreign contractor.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 10/01/08

Did you know?

SIR - Jenny Sampson suggests that we should all get behind Kris Hopkins in his bid to keep the property developers off our green belt (T&A, December 28), and then goes on to state that the Labour government says we must build 50,000 new homes.

Unfortunately, comments such as these are not helpful because they not correct.

The quota for the 50,000 new homes has not come directly from the Labour government but rather the Regional Spatial Strategy which originates from the Regional Assembly.

You could argue that, because Labour set up these assemblies, this is their fault, but the edict did not come directly from Labour.

Does Ms Sampson know who represents Bradford on the Regional Assembly? Well it's none other than Kris Hopkins! So it's a bit rich to say we should get behind him to save our green belt when he was the only member of Bradford Council who had an input in to this decision.

Rather than get behind Mr Hopkins we should hold him to account for this decision which he was partly responsible for!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 08/01/08

Stop the madness of immigration

Migration Watch has confirmed that high rates of welfare benefits are making the British job market more attractive to foreign workers.

This is exactly what I have been saying for years and what most people with half a brain have known for some time.

Official figures released recently also show an interesting statistic, in that since we opened our borders to workers from eastern Europe in 2004 we have over a half a million – 525,000 – fewer British-born people in work.

It is also clear that once migrant workers realise that they are only going to be slightly better off (£30 a week on the minimum wage) working then they will surely choose the easier option, ie, living off benefits.

When these people move over to benefits, what then? Well, we get more migrants to fill their jobs and the cycle continues.

Our country is sinking fast as the old parties continue to sink their collective heads into the sand.

We must stop this madness!

Jason Smith, (Yorkshire Regional Secretary, UK Independence Party), Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury.

Halifax Courier, 07/01/08

My nomination...

SIR - As I walked past the huge pile of rubble in the centre of Bradford and mused that it might make a great dry rubble ski slope, I noticed work had started on the site. Hallelujah!

Upon closer inspection I noticed it was only the surrounding barriers which were being painted. Obviously they had been there so long the artwork was decaying!

As 2007 becomes 2008, I would like to nominate Bradford Council for the Most Incompetent Council of the Year Award!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 05/01/08

Lies that led to European union

FEW people seem to have grasped that the roots of the subversive attempt to create a United States of Europe (as if the American version hadn't already caused enough problems!) began with a dinner between Germany's Gustav Stresemann and France's Aristide Briand just one week after Germany was admitted to the League of Nations in 1926.
They seemed to have accepted the ideas of the Italian Giovanni Agnelli, whose support for a European federation was published as early as 1918.
You can even find earlier roots if you choose to look, the "great and the good" determining what is to be good for the "plebs".
Under the guise of Franco-German economic co-operation the seeds of what became the EU were sufficiently deeplysown as to survive the entire Hitler period and to raise their weedlike heads again at the end of World War II.
Building on the stealth, concealment of objectives and sheer lies to the public by people like Paul-Henri Spaak, Altiero Spin-elli and the odious and corrupt Jean Monnet, the European Coal and Steel Community, a precursor of the Common Market, was born in 1951.
Only in recent years and with hindsight have we been able to spot how this anti-democratic monolith has conspired to deprive our nation of all rights to self-determination.
Clearly the politicians such as Edward Heath, who admitted to the lies told to fool voters, Tony Blair, who sold out to the EU, and Gordon Brown, who has cynically denied us the promised referendum, are not and have never been on our side.
Their strings are pulled from Brussels.

Jason Smith, (Yorkshire Regional Secretary, UK Independence Party), Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury.

Halifax Courier, 04/01/08

Council cuts under attack

SO Bradford Council has given its street wardens their marching orders.

This is surely another nail in the coffin for what is left of Bradford's shopping area with shop owners and shoppers both agreeing that their presence made them feel safer. The council may have saved some money on wardens' salaries, but how much money will be lost by Bradford businesses, I wonder?

To me, this is all about priorities. Bradford's Conservatives have proved once again that crime is incredibly low if not totally off their radar. To me, having a safe city centre must be one of the most important issues. If there was money to be cut, I would slash some from the massively pointless "cultural budget".

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Yorkshire Regional Secretary, Queensbury, Bradford.

Yorkshire Post, 27/12/07

Honour intact!

SIR - Graham Stringer, MP for Manchester, Blackley, recently argued: "As a Labour MP I know that the reason that the Government is about to break its electoral promise, is not because the new treaty is different from the European Constitution, but because it fears a 'no' vote.

"This is mistaken - much better and less damaging for the Government to lose an open, fair debate than to be dishonest."

And I had thought that all honour had fled from the Labour party. Apparently, tiny pockets survive!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 02/01/08

Principle’s EU test

SIR - The new Lib-Dem leader Nick Clegg recently said he would be willing to face imprisonment for refusing to sign up for an ID card.

I would wholeheartedly support that statement but I wonder would Mr Clegg be as willing to defy the European Union as it is them who are pushing for ID cards across Europe, and are committed to an EU-wide ID card in the not-too-distant future.

Mr Clegg is, of course, a former member of the European Parliament and a fanatical supporter of EU integration.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 01/01/08

Well done Sentamu!

AS the EU gave a stage to one of the world’s most vile dictators, Robert Mugabe, at the Lisbon summit did you hear UK politicians decrying this invitation? Of course not; only one man spoke out against this racist leader. He isn’t a politician, but he is a man of great standing. I was proud to be British when I witnessed the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu cut up his dog collar on TV and pledge not to replace it until Mugabe was replaced. Well done Mr. Sentamu!

How apt that the world’s next great dictatorship, the EU, should invite one of the world’s worst dictators to tea. What’s that saying? Birds of a feather!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party’s Bradford chairman

Huddersfield Examiner, 28/12/07

Don’t accept plans

SIR - Regional minister Caroline Flint announced (T&A, December 13) that due to the need to build 55,000 new homes by 2026, some greenbelt sites have to be considered for destruction.

Her rationale for this is that families needed new homes and young people want to buy a home.

She says Bradford City Hall chiefs must hit the target of 2,700 homes every year set by the Regional Spatial Strategy.

There are a few things wrong with this picture. Firstly, how dare the unelected regional minister dictate to our elected officials of Bradford?

Some might question their competency, but they have been elected by us, while she was just appointed to fill some European regional strategy.

Her claims that people need homes would not be the case if we were not the immigration capital of Europe.

The Regional Spatial Strategy comes from the Regional Assembly, which the government has finally agreed to scrap as it doesn't work, so why then are they still making regional policy?

Again, I call on our "so called" leaders in City Hall to reject this regional strategy and save our green belt.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 28/12/07

EU should be main concern

DIFFERENT reports show the European Union is always low on the lists of priorities of most voters – perhaps as low as ninth. Ironically, almost all items more highly placed are dependent on the EU for resolution.

Even when this is not directly the case, shortfalls in public funding can be laid at its door.

As more than 70 per cent of legislation now originates in Brussels, how can the EU be in any place other than top for an informed electorate?

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Yorkshire regional secretary, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford.

Yorkshire Post, 27/12/07

European cash boost for wealthy

MATTHEW Elliott, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, has stated that it is wrong that farm subsidies have "become a mechanism for transferring taxpayers' money from ordinary families to City millionaires".
He says: "The CAP was set up to ensure that poorer farmers had a minimum standard of living but now the system is being abused by wealthy individuals buying tracts of land to claim subsidies."
The Commn Agricultural Policy is just one more unacceptable face of the EU.

Jason Smith, (Chairman, UK Independence Party, Bradford). Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury.

Halifax Courier, 21/12/07

Data system open to abuse from criminals

YOU would have thought with last week's disturbing revelation that the Government has managed to lose 25 million people's personal data, that they might be trying to reassure the public that they can be trusted with our personal information. So what is their latest proposal?

A leaked document suggests that NHS patients' data could be sent abroad for processing! Thankfully, GPs have spoken out against this ludicrous idea, rightly stating that they are worried that this could be a breach of confidentiality and that information could be processed in nations that place little value on data protection.

The Government could, of course, counter this by saying that our personal information is already processed in a nation that places little value on data protection.

In my view, it is only a matter of time before our Government succumbs to the cost benefits of outsourcing our data to another country – but at what cost to us?

Jason Smith, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford.

Yorkshire Post, 30/11/07

Going to extremes?

SIR - What a disgusting decision by the Sudanese government to charge teacher Gillian Gibbons over the so called "Teddy Row", it is quite clear than no offence was meant.

We are constantly assured by Muslim religious leaders in the UK that there is nothing to fear from their religion, but to people in this country it is looking increasingly like an "extremist" religion and, with episodes like this and the "cartoon" protests, who can blame them?

I am also disappointed by our Prime Minister's response to the decision; he claims he is "surprised and disappointed".

I'm afraid threatening to jail or whip someone for wrongly naming a teddy bear warrants stronger words.

Our government should demand this teacher's release, immediately!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 30/11/07

EU Treaty scrutiny

OUR PM claims, "the proper place to scrutinise (The EU Treaty) is in Parliament."

The man must surely know that Parliament cannot amend a European treaty; it must only accept or reject them.

There is no opportunity for ‘scrutiny’. Just whom is he trying to con?

JASON SMITH, Bradford

The Sun, 28/11/07

Latest blunder means ID cards must be scrapped

ONCE again, the people of this country are going to suffer from being governed by what must surly be the most incompetent set of politicians in living memory. The latest entry in to their catalogue of incompetence is the ability of our Government to lose 25 million people's personal details – that is every person in our country who claims child benefit.

You would think that data of this importance might have been encrypted in some way? Or possibly delivered by hand rather than relying on the post?

Let us remember what details are contained on this CD. They include our bank details, the names and ages of our children and our addresses. An early Christmas present for any criminal or paedophile.

Will you now all stand orderly in line and be measured up for your ID card and have your data input on an allegedly secure government database?

Just imagine for one moment if this data was your ID data, your bank details, medical history, a copy of your iris and your thumbprint? You would have lost your identity forever.

Jason Smith, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford.

Yorkshire Post, 23/11/07

A change of tune

SIR - Councillor Kris Hopkins is talking tough again on post office closures (T&A, November 12) trying to sell the fact that he is so concerned about this issue.

I must confess, it has been rather amusing watching the old parties try to blame each other for this issue but it's time for some truth.

All the old parties are to blame for post office closures as they all supported the (EU) regulations that have seen its demise. It's no good jumping up and down now and pledging to save said post offices - none should be closing!

The sham of the old parties is becoming ever more apparent to the man in the street, their policies become ever more indistinguishable and intertwined as they continue to swap clothes.

When the man in the street tells you "all politicians are the same", he's not far wrong!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 15/11/07

Put the city first

SIR - As I very much doubt Elaine Neale will receive a reply from either of the old political parties to her question on whether they would like to "demolish or not demolish" the Odeon (T&A, November 8), I thought I would attempt to answer for them.

Both New Labour and the New Conservatives would see the Odeon demolished, quite simply because their leaders sit on the Board of Bradford City Regeneration and BCR's strategy is to demolish the Odeon.

It seems the old parties' leaders now work for the regional regeneration body and not for the people of Bradford.

Don't just blame the old party leaders though, blame their feeble councillors who are afraid to speak out as they might lose favour with their respective party's hierarchy.

Isn't it about time we had some councillors who actually put the people before their own political ambitions?

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 14/11/07

Protest dismay

SIR - I am dismayed, but not surprised, that some residents of Manningham have decided to protest against a local sex shop which sports a window display of mannequins dressed in lingerie (T&A, October 27) which, I might add, was approved by the Council's licensing panel.

Residents' protests obviously stem from the fact the mannequins offend their religious beliefs.

What they have failed to understand, though, is the fact that this kind of display is acceptable in our liberal society. Let us just hope the shop owner is not intimidated and forced to shut up shop.

People often ask me, what is the problem with multiculturalism?

Multiculturalism is the single biggest threat to a cohesive society in Bradford. Dealing with the problems of segregation is not going to be resolved by allowing minority groups to play by their own rules.

Let us hope our liberal society continues to reign over this religious dogma.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 06/11/07

Stand corrected!

SIR - I would like to thank Ian Parsons for the history lesson on referendums and the EU (T&A, October 24), but I would like to make one correction.

Mr Parsons states, "Harold Wilson, in 1975, called a referendum on whether the UK should stay in the EU". The actual question was "Do you think the United Kingdom should stay in the European Community (The Common Market)?"

This was understood to be the "Common Market", a trading organisation; it was not understood to be full political union.

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 02/11/07

This is democracy

SIR - John Hall questions what I understand as democracy (T&A, October 23).

To me democracy is where every person's voice is heard, not ignored like they are currently; where all people can have an input and attempt to shape their country, city or village.

To me everybody should have a right to have their say providing they are not inciting hatred. Even if I disagree with somebody's point of view, I would defend their right to air that view.

The only exception to this would be (and this is where I disagree with John Hall's Lib-Dems) that I do not believe prisoners should be able to vote in elections. Convicted criminals should lose that right.

Jason Smith (UK Independence Party, Bradford chairman), Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 01/11/07

An EU approval?

SIR - Researchers said this week that Britain is one of the most welcoming countries in Europe for immigrants. This will not be news to most British people who are well aware of the popularity of the UK due to our generous benefits and housing system.

The Tories' answer to this, announced at their national conference, was to limit the number of migrants who come from outside the EU.

This policy tells us many things about the new Tories. Firstly, they have absolutely no intention of limiting migrants from the EU, which is, at least at the moment, the largest contributor to our spiralling population. This in turn tells us that they are happy to let the EU continue to control our borders as they are, actually, happy to be a part of the EU.

Their party claims they want a vote on the EU "constitution" treaty, but it is clear if it became reality they would push for a "yes" vote to stay in the EU. The reality is, if they want to be a part of the EU, they will have no recourse but to sign the constitution.

Jason Smith (UK Independence Party Bradford chairman), Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Telegraph & Argus, 25/10/07

Post goes private

SIR - Re Coun John Watmough's comments on post office closures (T&A October 22). He is right to say that the Government is hell-bent on closing post offices, but offers no reason why it would do this.

Post office closures are a result of laws coming from the EU. Article 88 of the Amsterdam Treaty demands the Government seeks permission from the EU Commission to decide what state aid for postal services is allowed. The Government struck a deal in 2003 allowing them to provide £150 million to post offices each year. However, the cost of subsidising the service is £4 million per week, creating a shortfall of £58 million. This is the real reason for the closures.

Another subsequent directive (2002/39/EC) opened up the market to other players and imposed new regulations on sizing and weights of post, meaning that the Royal Mail could no lon