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Is this the British way?

Thomas Cook has just gone bust and joins the long list of famous British companies that have disappeared.

Much of Britain’s manufacturing has shut down. Many well-known names have gone for ever including Woolworths, BHS, MG Rover, shipbuilding and many steel production plants.

Globalisation describes industrial policy of the three major parties in Britain. This policy is that it is cheaper to import foreign goods than to support British industry.

The bail out of the banks was an exception to this rule. Hundreds of billions were spent supporting the banks.

Companies like Thomas Cook are sacrificed on the altar of free market economics.

Sometimes just a small amount of money is needed to help a business over a difficult period, but that is not the British way.

The British way is to close businesses down as soon as they get into financial difficulties.

Steve Halden, Beaufort Green, Swindon

There seems little point

I RECEIVED a letter from Swindon Borough Council this week regarding my opinion on how often local elections are held.

I will be honest my first reaction was to write across it: ‘What is the point?’

I refer to the disgraceful affront to democracy regarding the referendum to leave the European Disunion not being implicated after over three years.

After a few days I calmed down, and realised as a responsible taxpaying citizen I would fill the form in.

Like Brenda from Bristol, who exclaimed ‘not another one’ after hearing about another general election being declared, I ticked the box for once every four years.

I was tempted to add, can’t you make it eight years for all the difference it makes, but I declined and conformed dutifully as my generation were instilled by that firm sense of conformity and values.

I have spoken to many of my friends and have came to a firm conclusion from the ensuing conversations that we have all had.Out means out, be it one vote, or 1.4 million votes.Why are we waiting?

Ignore democracy and you shake hands with the devil regarding anarchy. God forbid .

These posturing, so-called MPs thinking for one moment that us common plebs will eventually give up on this charade and let our vote regarding Brexit be reversed need reminding of the genes of our ancestors that fought off greater challenges than this farcical pantomime. With blood, sweat and tears, and victorious conclusions to save our island from the insidious

Bill Williams, Merlin Way, Covingham

Meaningful sentencing

In his column (SA, September 18), Robert Buckland states that “14 new offences have been added to the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme”. This allows members of the public to approach the Attorney General to ask the Court of Appeal to increase the sentence passed by a lower court.

Surely the same principle should apply to all sentences for all crimes?

Much of the discontent felt by the public is that criminals sent to prison are ‘routinely’ released on parole after serving only half of their sentence. It is the duty of any government to provide enough prison places (and staff) to house all those so sentenced.

Surely, any court, when passing sentence for any crime, should ‘say what it means, and mean what it says’? Thus, all criminals should expect to serve all of their ‘time’ in jail – unless they have earned ‘time off for good behaviour’.

Similarly, if a prison sentence is suspended, this should mean that any crime committed during this period will, automatically, incur imprisonment – unless there are extenuating circumstances.

As well as providing punishment of the guilty, sentences should also act as a deterrent to others.

Malcolm Morrison, Prospect Hill, Swindon