WHAT HAPPENED ON 24th December 1996?

23th December 1996

LOOK BACK AT THE WEEK AT WESTMINSTER MONDAY The Government won a crucial vote on fisheries policy after a series of concessions to potential rebels in the first test of its authority since losing its overall Commons majority. Agriculture Minister Douglas Hogg said a selective cull of some 100 000 cows most at risk of BSE would now go ahead. TUESDAY The Government was defeated by seven votes as MPs voted to give courts the power to order offenders convicted of stalking to undergo counselling.

24th December 1996

It is right & proper there is a split

in the Conservative & Labour party in Europe. It reflects the split in the country as to whether Europe should be a trading bloc or something more. The debate on the referendum to join the Common Market crossed party boundaries. The same winl happen with the referendum on the single currency. Euro-{ceptic MPs are those who voted against the Maastricht Treaty second reading ` 26 Conservatives 59 Labour. George Powell Liverpool

24th December 1996

NEW RIGGING ROW AS PM WINS TODAY AWARD

A fresh row has erupted over alleged ballot-rigging in the BBC Today Personality of the Year contest after John Major was named this year's winner Labour MPs accused the Tories after the BBC disqualified 4 000 votes for the PM on evidence of "multiple voting" Some said the future of the poll should now be reconsidered. Controversy initially developed after a junior spin doctor urged Labour supporters to back Tony Blair.

23th December 1996

I still maintain the Conservatives have

an overall majority of four. Emma Nicholson & Alan Howarth were elected as Conservative MPs. You just cannot walk to another party and say: "Here's two seats to you & two less to the party you were voted in to represent." This is not democracy. GR Wilson Kings Lynn

24th December 1996

It is right & proper there is a split

in the Conservative & Labour party in Europe. It reflects the split in the country as to whether Europe should be a trading bloc or something more. The debate on the referendum to join the Common Market crossed party boundaries. The same winl happen with the referendum on the single currency. Euro-{ceptic MPs are those who voted against the Maastricht Treaty second reading ` 26 Conservatives 59 Labour. George Powell Liverpool

24th December 1996

I am sure I'm not alone in expressing

amazement that John Major has romped home as Radio 4's Personality of the Year. Any analysis from recent polls concludes that Mr Major is the most unpopular premier in British political history. It would be interesting to see the latest itemised phone bill from Conservative Central Office. CG Stewart Clydebank

23th December 1996

HATTERSLEY PRAISES LABOUR UNDER BLAIR

Former deputy Labour leader Roy Hattersley has praised the development of the Labour Party under Tony Blair. It was a party with new standards & new values with Tony Blair standing for a "spirit that's abroad in the country" Mr Hattersley told BBC TV. Labour wanted to be kinder & more compassionate to people he said. Whether he was happy was irrelevant he said. "What I stand for is no longer important in the Labour Party."

24th December 1996

It is right & proper there is a split

in the Conservative & Labour party in Europe. It reflects the split in the country as to whether Europe should be a trading bloc or something more. The debate on the referendum to join the Common Market crossed party boundaries. The same winl happen with the referendum on the single currency. Euro-{ceptic MPs are those who voted against the Maastricht Treaty second reading ` 26 Conservatives 59 Labour. George Powell Liverpool

24th December 1996

In a television interview on ITV the

Prime Minister told the Labour party to get out of the gutter. As the Tory party has been there most of the time especially before elections this is the only way Labour can find out what the} are up to. It is what is called a level playing field. Mr A Dalby Grimsby