Allan Smith

May I say I was delighted to see Nelson Mandela on the TV this week in preparation for his 90^th birthday celebration. He is such an inspiration to a great many people and I am very pleased at the recent full council meeting North Lincolnshire Council agreed to mark the occasion on July 18.

I would just hope, however, the Conservatives nationally do not turn out to support it as it would show them up to be the hypocrites they are.  The ANC wrote to all councils at the time asking them not to trade with South Africa but the Tories on Glanford Borough Council ignored it - they wanted to carry on slave labour.

I am a huge jazz fan and it should be known that if the likes of Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone were born in South Africa at that time we would never have enjoyed their talents. I attended marches in the 80s to protest against it and I attended a Labour conference in 2001 where Nelson Mandela stood and told us all the Conservatives supported Apartheid.  I never once saw a Tory marching against Apartheid.

I just hope Mr Mandela can be remembered as the inspirational man he is and those who failed to support him when he needed it most do not try and jump on the bandwagon.