MADAM - John Marjoram has recently suggested that because the local UKIP candidate for Stroud didn’t sign a card with other parties committing themselves to take further action on climate change, this somehow makes UKIP climate change deniers.

This is nonsense.

Other parties have other agendas and objectives and I find it unlikely that John would sign any card that UKIP initiated.

Apart from anything else John, the card is rather meaningless, it is what happens in Parliament that counts.

I live in the Cotswold constituency and I happen to think that a full and unqualified investigation should be held into the child abuse which, we have recently learned, has blighted this country for many decades and caused unimaginable, long term distress for many, many children and young people.

As is my democratic right, I have e-mailed my MP asking him to sign up to the initial call for an inquiry which was initiated by Zac Goldsmith MP, and latterly to sign an early day motion demanding that the terms of reference for the enquiry be extended.

To date I have not received a reply to either of my requests. Does this make my MP a child-abuse denier?

Neil Carmichael has certainly signed the initial call for an inquiry so full marks to him.

The new SNJ column by Karen Eberhardt-Shelton seems to further press the green agenda.

On November 5 she bemoaned the high cost of transport, reporting that it costs over £4 to travel three stops on the London Underground.

Assuming that she had to effect a return, this amounted to over £8 which on the face of it seems harsh but the fact is that one can travel off-peak on all transport for London i.e. train, underground or bus for a one-off fee of £8.90.

What astonishes me is that any Green intent on saving the planet as Ms Eberhardt-Shelton seems to be, should find it necessary to take a tube for three stops.

A walk would be the ideal mode of transport.

As a 70 year old who visits the capital regularly, I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

Roger Gough

Minchinhampton