Letters - January 9, 2017

Re: Brexit. There are already many things to be positive about, including increased manufacturing output and a long line of countries that want a trade deal with us once we leave the EU shackles.

The greatest, if unpleasant, revelation has been the open contempt we ordinary English are held in by the majority of full-time politicians.

Further, there is no good reason to maintain the House of Lords which should be abolished forthwith.

Some Peers of the Realm appear to be suffering from narcolepsy. These Peers have not been elected but selected by the likes of Blair, Cameron and Clegg who have stuffed Parliament with self-serving mediocrities.

They seem to indulge in legal but morally reprehensible manoeuvres to maximise their overgenerous expense claims.

The House of Lords does not need replacing.

A single chamber Parliament would be more efficient and it could select a cohort of its members for the special purpose of checking the efficacy of proposed legislation.

Furthermore, we desperately need a turnover of incumbents. No-one should be an MP for more than 20 years continuous service. This would have the bonus of barring Theresa May, pictured, from office.

The BBC should highlight the attendance, voting record, and interests of all MPs and hold them to account in its self-appointed role of ‘voice of the nation’. Whilst on the subject, postal voting is unfit for purpose. It should be only for the very infirm.

The EU is doomed and will probably collapse before we finally move to Brexit and thus we will be liable for some of the costs of the bankruptcy.

Already the Visegrad Group (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and now Austria) is engaged in diplomatic hostilities with Brussels. These will reach boiling point this year.

In March, Italy has a critical General Election and it is highly likely that most votes will go to Italexit parties, leading to a financial breakdown of the euro.

Meanwhile, Germany still has no government in office due to failed coalition talks and the rise of the populist AfD party. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Edward Johnson

Via email

SOCIETY

What sort of society have we created?

Some of us were able to enjoy the frivolity of a hamper of ‘Carry On’ films over Christmas.

Thank goodness for that era of British ‘holiday postcard’ humour to make us laugh and to get some sense of reality back!

It is funny how a group of adult men and women managed to work together in the 1960s and 70s and make us all laugh.

How did Messrs Scott, Syms and James manage all that titillation and innuendo without anybody screaming sexual harassment or intimidation? How?

Because they were all mature adults, enjoying themselves in the entertainment of others.

In today’s atmosphere of PC and not wanting to say, or do, anything that might be misinterpreted, our society is reducing itself to one of any inability to laugh at oneself and others for fear of being accused of sexual harassment, racism and prejudice.

Can we not all remember the humour of Dave Allen, Frankie Howard and Peter Cook ?

We could do with a few Hattie Jacques and Thora Hirds today to re-establish our sanity and a sense of proportion.

What sort of society have we created where one minute we are teaching our infants about same sex marriage and their transgender options, when in the next breath adults are claiming sexual assault when they are helped on to a bus or train?

What a carry on!

Can we all try to be a bit more grown up in 2018?

Paul Emsley

via email

BREXIT

Let’s have another EU referendum

At the time of the EU referendum, I, like millions of others, wasn’t aware of the implications of voting to leave.

As a result, a small margin carried the vote and off we went.

Since then, I have had time to follow events and I am concerned that we appear to be blundering on without any firm benefits for leaving.

There is a great danger that the United Kingdom will disintegrate and the necessary overseas doctors, nurses, hotel staff and manual farm workers will no longer be available.

Banks are already threatening to move abroad and the wealth of the country will decline.

We will become isolated in world matters and vulnerable in terms of negotiations.

Instead of blundering on, it would make sense for Theresa May to hold a further referendum to see whether the public confirms the decision to leave or puts pressure on her to spend the cash she is offering to invest in this country instead of bribing Europe.

Perhaps Jeremy Corbyn could inject a bit more pressure rather than sitting on the fence watching events that will change all our lives.

Frank Saggerson

via email

POLITICS

Save the NHS... get the Tories out!

Re: Jeremy Hunt’s apology for cancellation of NHS operations. Get the whole lot of them out and away from the NHS before they finish it off.

Tom Shaw

via email