Letters: June 23, 2016

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Immigrants contribute

IN RECENT days those who want us to vote to quit the EU have focussed upon the issue of immigration.

Not only have they tried to scare us with stories of vast numbers of immigrants heading this way from countries such as Turkey whose membership of the EU is both far from certain and a long way off, but they have also been making claims about immigration that do not stack up,

They say immigrants come here to claim benefits and use our services without contributing.

Study after study has shown this to be wrong and that immigrants actually put much more into the system than they take out.

This contribution is valuable to a society which has an ageing population and we need this contribution as it helps us look after our older people who have already made their contribution to our country.

Such claims are not surprising given the inaccurate and misleading claims made by the quitters over other issues such as the amount of our law made by the EU (The House of Commons Library says 10 to 14 per cent, whereas they claim a misleading 75 per cent) and their claims regarding the cost of our EU membership fee, which led to the unprecedented intervention of the head UK Statistics Agency who called the figure they have been quoting “misleading”.

When it comes to the economy the quitters have produced no real plan for the future and seem oblivious to the risks that just about every commentator, economist and world leader agree that quitting poses.

Given this it is difficult to support the case to quit, particularly when one considers how this nation has prospered since we joined the EU in the 1970s.

We have come a long way since we had to go cap in hand to the IMF after going bust after losing our empire.

Many new companies have come to the UK as a result of our EU membership, including Honda who export a large amount of what they make here to other EU countries, providing British people with jobs.

As well as being good for our economy, the EU has also been good for us as individuals.

Perhaps the best examples to give at this time of the year relate to holidays.

The EU open skies directive has dramatically reduced the cost of air travel in Europe.

We can travel to any other EU country without a visa and the EHIC scheme enables us to get medical treatment in other EU countries.

Most recently, the abolition of roaming charges will save many of us a great deal of money this summer.

Quitting the EU poses many risks, as the quitters have failed to come up with a clear plan.

Frankly, they have failed to come up with any convincing reasons why we should quit.

Staying in the EU is a known quantity with little risk as we have been members for more than four decades.

Over the years we have begun to take many of the benefits of our EU membership for granted, but they are clear to see and provide many good reasons to stay in the EU.

ADAM POOLE

Savill Crescent, Wroughton

....

Policies led to problems

AS THE EU referendum debate nears its end one thing at least has become clear to me. The lack of jobs paying a living wage and affordable housing is a problem for many, and they are rightly angry about this.

Exit campaigners have successfully blamed immigrants for these problems and neither the press nor the political establishment have challenged this, therefore many have become angry about the level of immigration.

I suggest 37 years of right-wing economic policy, such as selling off council houses, failing to support industries, and austerity are the causes of these problems.

But neither Labour nor the Tories dare point this out because they have either implemented these policies or failed to alter them when they had the power.

Meanwhile, the people who are leading the campaign against immigrants are the very same people who benefit from these policies, former commodity broker Nigel Farage being a prime example.

HOWARD MARCH

Tudor Crescent, Swindon

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Floundering Cameron

I AM sure many will have watched Question Time on June 19 and I believe that they will have come to the same conclusion as me, David Cameron was lying through his teeth.

He was uncomfortable with many of the questions from the floor and waffled a lot.

David Dimbleby gave him a hard time and rightly so.

Cameron attempted to make unsubstantiated points, particularly on immigration and the accession of Turkey to the EU.

He is on record as stating that this would not happen before the year 3000.

On the programme this was reduced to “at least three decades” yet he knows civil servants are working on an early entrance and has personally backed Turkey’s entry.

The fact that Turkey has only satisfied only one of the 34 requirements will count for nothing, as Turkey’s president has the EU over a barrel with regards to the refugee flow to the EU.

I think Turkey could be in the EU within two years.

The formation of a European army is common knowledge, Cameron denied this, although it is very much on the agenda of the EU.

Senior military chief Lord Guthrie switched from Remain to Leave as he foresaw this as a political army, rather than a military one, that will be at odds with NATO which has provide forces to police peace in Europe since 1949.

Why is this army necessary as most of the members of NATO are also members of the EU?

Can you trust Cameron? I suggest not, he is less honest than Arthur Daley and that comes from someone that has voted Conservative all his life. If you agree with me you will vote to leave.

HENRY SMITH

Peatmoor, Swindon

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Looking for freedom

I HOPE and pray that the citizens of this island have enough tenacity and common sense to send the European Disunion on its way today.

To regain control of our borders our sovereignty and our fishing waters.

Giving us freedom from the tentacles of the non-democratic, financially corrupt conglomerate after more than 40 years. It was originally meant to be a trading block.

The Remain camp cannot have any faith in this island standing on its own. Yet for centuries it has done so successfully.

Do the Remain camp not get the message? It is nothing to do with race, colour or creed but we cannot cope with a population explosion we cannot control.

We do not have the necessary housing. Our NHS is stretched to breaking point through sheer numbers.

Our schools are facing the same problem. Our roads have enough cars to contend with.

We are an island with limited space. Border controls are a necessity in these troubled times.

I hope the British Bulldog spirit that served us well in two world wars shines through on the day that we decide our destiny for future generations.

The Disunion in my opinion will face economic and financial collapse within a few years.

We must make our move now and hear the battle cry of freedom, or go down with a sinking ship.

I firmly believe the collective free spirit of the citizens of these islands will save the day

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way, Swindon

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Empires acted cruelly

In reply to the letter by Jeff Adams (June 18) extolling the virtues of the Roman Empire I would like to draw his attention of to the words of Pontius Pilate in Luke 23 verse 3.

“I find no fault in this man.” These were the fateful words of Pontius Pilate at the trial of Jesus.

Even though he could find no fault in any of the deeds of Jesus, Pilate still proceeded to crucify Jesus.

This is an example of the terrible, unjust cruelty of the Roman Empire.

It crucified thousands of people during its domination of Europe and it is not an empire any democrat should be supporting.

Freedom and democracy could only begin to take root in Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire.

STEVE HALDEN

Beaufort Green, Swindon

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Town looks disgraceful

WHAT has this town come to? It looks like a wilderness. Never have I seen the grass verges and roads and pavements looking like they now do.

The grass cutters will need straw/hay balers following them to collect the cuttings before they are all over the road and pavements, gutters and drains will be clogged with grass leading to flooding.

David Renard says we can not take these services for granted but, sorry David, we are paying for them.

Can we the tax payer get a refund on services paid for but not received?

I think not, so get your act together and get it sorted.

The town is a disgrace. It’s not the weather you should blame, it’s yourselves at the council for spending our money on your own whims and not for the benefit of us the tax payer

R ELLIOTT

Merlin Way, Swindon

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Bring end to monarchy

QUEEN Camilla? King Charles? No thanks! Preparations for King Charles are already under way. Recently the Queen made Camilla and Prince William members of the secretive and non-democratic Privy Council so they can be part of the ceremony when Charles becomes king.

Plans are being made for Charles to become king and it’s wrong the British people will have no say.

It’s time to say NO to King Charles - It’s time to have a serious debate about the royals. We can end the monarchy at the ballot box. No-one should be head of state for decades without any elections.

We need a democratic alternative to the monarchy.

Challenge the status quo!

JEFF ADAMS

Bloomsbury, Swindon