Ellee Seymour

Will Tony Blair’s decision to begin withdrawing our troops from Iraq spare Prince Harry from being sent to the frontline? What a huge relief that will be for the royal family.

With Denmark following suit, maybe Lithuania too, I wonder what Bush really thinks about this. When will American troops begin to return home for good? No sight of that yet as he has just sent another 21,000 troops to Iraq. How isolated will the coalition withdrawal make them feel?

I am delighted this is happening, I was appalled by our lack of strategy following the invasion, the deliberate lies told about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, though exalted at Saddam Hussein capture, and yes, his death was necessary. Yet daily life in Iraq is still one of bloodshed and carnage. I simply have no idea how this will ever, if ever, be resolved.

A total of 132 British troops have so far died in Iraq, and more than 3,000 U.S. troops have been killed. There have been so many other wasted lives too, do you remember those tense, desperate moments of futile negotiations to secure the release of Ken Bigley and Margaret Hassan? They will remain etched in my mind for ever.There was also the tragic death of David Kelly driven to the edge. And there are countless more victims we hear nothing about.

What are your views about Blair’s decision to begin withdrawing our troops? Is the time right, and what will it mean to Bush?

Update: Prince Harry could well be on the way to Iraq. MPs to be told of his deployment.

It’s not just the 1.8 million road pricing petitioners who feel they are being given the brush off, how about the 4 million people concerned about the future of their post offices? Are they being heard?

There is two weeks left to respond to the government’s consultation on this, with several hundred post offices being considered for closure. 

Julian Sturdy is actively discovering local views about this in York Outer, the impact closures will have on the daily lives of those who rely on its services in his constituency. 

I wonder why post office services continue to be run down during the consultation process, with TV licences no longer available from them, but via Pay Point outlets in stores and garages and online. However, I have just keyed in my postcode and find PayPoint will not be available in my village store. I know this will cause much worry and anxiety for the elderly who do not embrace digital technology or own a car and can travel to the nearest PayPoint facility.

I would like to have seen Post Office’s encouraged to modernise to restore profitability in its main offices,to invest in new products and look at innovative ways to deliver services. Perhaps they could also be used as paying-in centres for local authorities.

Btw, I signed the road pricing petition and did not receive an email from Tony Blair, I have even checked my junk email and it has not ended up there. Will  he also be emailing those who petitioned about the loss of their post offices - more than double those who signed the online petition? Is there any point to petitions if these two signed by almost 6 million people have made little difference at the end of the day?