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It’s a vote against

THERESA May is negotiating a Brexit deal and Labour have said they will vote against it unless the deal passes the six tests that Labour have set out to judge the deal.

The first test is that the Brexit deal must include exactly the same benefits as we have now.

So, using that logic, if the deal is better than before, Labour would vote against it on the grounds that it is not exactly the same as before.

The only way to get a deal that is exactly the same is to remain in the EU.

In other words Labour will vote against any Brexit deal that Theresa May negotiates if it does not include remaining in the EU.

Steve Halden, Beaufort Green, Swindon

A bright future awaits

DAVID Collins (Sept 25) is correct to talk about the bright future that awaits Britain outside the EU.

The last 45 years of EU membership have been disastrous and have almost brought the British economy to its knees.

We have endured seven years of continuous Conservative austerity.

This austerity has failed to balance the books and for the foreseeable future the policy of spending cuts will have to continue.

House prices have rocketed beyond the reach of the ordinary working class.

Wages have been steadily ground down to a level below what they were worth before the economic crash of 2008.

Only by breaking the strangle hold that the EU has on business can Britain break free and reach the sunny uplands of future prosperity.

Under Treason May we will leave the EU in name only.

She has frustrated the process from the start and will probably call a snap election in a bid to see a second referendum.

If you actually want the Brexit we voted for, think long and hard where to place that cross X .

Martin Costello, Eldene, Swindon

No more crisps for me

ONE can’t help but notice the publicity about having your photo taken whilst posting a crisp packet back to Walkers, the manufacturer!

I don’t give a hoot for the reason why, but I cannot for the life of me understand how people lose their common sense when it is perfectly obvious that sending used crisp packets through the mail, plus the possibility of contaminating other mail in the process, is not a suitable way of returning the said packet.

I have decided to never eat another packet of crisps!

Although it is not scientifically proven, eating crisps obviously leads one to lose all active brain function and common sense.

Once this happens, there is no known cure and, heaven knows our NHS is stretched enough.

People are not naturally stupid but eating crisps seems to make one so!

Royal Mail has enough problems with deciphering some mail products that they receive and they now have to decide if the person sending the mail needs some form of counselling!

Chris Gleed, Purton, Swindon

Takes some believing

SOME things that our local council does (or does not do) take some believing, but the latest saga of the ten unsold houses in Sussex Place takes the biscuit.

The ten potential homes have been ‘finished’ for well over a year and yet only three people have made a ‘firm enquiry’ for one of these amazing new houses costing less than £200,000.

Of course when the council says it has had a firm enquiry we might be forgiven for dismissing their claim as nothing more than a way to suggest they are actually actively marketing the homes, although some may feel they lack the necessary commercial expertise.

However, it is now revealed that after more than a year the council has still not obtained the essential ‘energy certification’ by which I am sure they are referring to ‘The Code for Sustainable Homes’ which is a two-step process applied at design stage and post construction.

Naturally, without the relevant certification no competent solicitor is going to recommend their client proceeds with a purchase.

Coun Cathy Martyn advises readers that officers applied for the certification in May 2018 and four months later they still don’t have the paperwork.

To which one can legitimately ask whether it is the case that someone has simply failed to do their job as the certificates should have been applied for well before May.

Indeed, as part of the two-step certification process which would have involved council officials and the BRE liaising throughout the build-time, surely the availability of the paperwork should have been a formality.

Des Morgan, Caraway Drive, Swindon

Keep enjoying the game

I JUST wanted to say yes it’s great to be doing the Beat the Street game, only there’s still people who are cheating in their cars, even a taxi driver whom I had words with didn’t say a lot, said he had the wrong fob so went on his way.

I took measures to stick a note on one of the Beat machines but had it taken off, just goes to show.

I just wonder if there weren’t any prizes to be given away would there still be so many people doing it.

Anyway it’s great to see lots of families, young and old doing the game.

Keep it going.

J O’Shea, Headlands Grove, Swindon