Competition

Competition No 3931

Following the success of the Euston Manifesto, you were asked for suggestions of another declaration based on another railway station.

Report by Ms de Meaner

What a comp, eh? It takes something special to tempt Keith Flett (not a winner, sadly) out of the woodwork. Welcome to newbie Frederick Stansfield. Hon menshes to Bill Greenwell for his Budleigh Salterton Manifesto and Katie Mallett for her Paris Nord Manifesto ("Those who enter our country illegally will be dealt with fairly but firmly. If unable to return to their country of origin they will be deported to the nearest safe destination, ie, the United Kingdom"). £20 each to the three winners, which got weirder and weirder, with the Tesco vouchers going to Mr

Bibby. I was amused by Harry Glenister's

worry that readers might not think his entry was "satirical" and that his "firm rule at home" and "strong leadership" ideas were his own. Perish the thought.

The Paddington Manifesto

The Paddington Manifesto recognises that fundamentally our prosperity depends on the west. While not ignoring the east (and the proposed Crossrail link to Liverpool Street is not incompatible with our philosophy), we recognise that western civilisation has created our wealth and will sustain our future. Mankind's progress has been linked inextricably with enterprise and technological innovation, from the engineering achievements of Brunel to the high-tech companies of the Thames Valley today. It is the duty of government to sustain innovation with diverse energy strategies including Reading's windmill and the tidal barrage on the Severn, as well nuclear generation on our western coasts.

But in facing west we also respect the rights of communities to articulate a local voice. We support the Welsh Assembly and propose to increase its powers within the constraints of overarching national strategies. Additionally, we recognise and value regional and cultural identities in areas such as Cornwall. In short, government should facilitate material progress and profit, but set up toothless user groups - much as it has done with the Great Western railway.

Stephen Bibby

The Wormegay Halt Manifesto

We the residents of Wormegay declare:

that beetroot prices should be pegged;

that Arthur Bushell should cop an Asbo for being a traffic hazard on the Oxborough Road;

that we should be sent our own man vicar;

that the shop should have an off-licence, with Daisy Wittlesford still running it;

that The Fenman should stop at Wormegay Halt on Tuesdays, so we can visit Lynn Market and buy bananas, end-of-line crockery bargains, and clothes from Patel's Modern Fashions stall;

that the transport café toilets at Wormegay Drove should be upgraded with seats and doors.

Anne Du Croz

The Bristol Temple Meads Manifesto

We, the seven Meadians, declare the following: This is truly the focus and centre of the descendent bloodline of the Nazarene. That which was committed with the Galilean Magdalen remains active within these stone portals. Here lies the true will to power and here lies the true faith, waiting for that reawakening at the sound of the last trump.

We, the seven Meadians, are the guardians of the Holy Grail. This sacred vessel shall appear before mankind only at the time of the last great battle. With it, at Armageddon, shall the evil one be finally conquered and those in grace be saved for all eternity.

We, the seven Meadians, declare that this is the end of the line for the Da Vinci Code.

Sid FieldNo 3934 Set by Peter Wyatt

Deborah Bowman (NS, 15 May) reminded us that William Empson once described Lady Chatterley's Lover as being "like a daydream about a limerick". Could we have other books summed up in just this manner.

As many as you like by 15 June. E-mail: comp@newstatesman.co.uk