RECENT figures suggest that youth unemployment in the north-west is running at 53 per cent, that there are 1.6 million children living in severe poverty in Britain, foodbanks are increasing in numbers across the country, austerity measures are set to continue and Victorian-style poverty is increasing in all parts of the country with once eradicated diseases rearing their ugly heads again.

At a time unknown in this country where telling the truth is becoming a hate crime, when the law no longer protects you from the corrupt but protects the corrupt from you, when anyone who wins an argument with a liberal lefty is called a fascist, our politicians, council or government are being economical with the truth.

And we keep on pretending to believe them.

We know that facts don’t care about your feelings, we also know that wise men don’t need advice and fools won’t take it.

But the worst thing of all is when 98 per cent ignore it when the council or Government tell us we must all live within our means, then suddenly the magic money tree seems to be in full bloom when the Government or council needs it and nobody says a thing.

I no longer listen to the sheep, I no longer have any regard for the individual meddler, the diversity forced upon us, the councillor or the politician in Government.

My fear is for humanity and the future of our species.

Happy New Year.

PETER CLARKE Moorhouse Lane Oxenhope