Letters: Britain must see the EU’s extortionate demands for what they really are

Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator 
Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator  Credit: dario pignatelli/bloomberg

SIR – At a time when we need extra funding for such vital causes as the NHS and housebuilding, many of our politicians appear willing to pay the EU tens of billions of pounds in order to obtain trading rights that nations such as the US and China enjoy without charge.

It is clear why the EU is making such extortionate demands: areas such as Andalucia in Spain, Sardinia in Italy and the Ardennes in Belgium will lose funding for projects once British contributions cease.

Why should we finance these? Our politicians must not be allowed to pay the bribes demanded by Brussels.

Colin Bullen
Tonbridge, Kent

 

SIR – As one of Theresa May’s constituents and loyal supporters, I am saddened to see her siding with her Remainer Chancellor and being sucked into the EU’s plan of squeezing Britain without any intention of coming to a fair deal. Do she and Philip Hammond not realise that, whatever they concede, it will never be enough?

Dr Peter Grey
Hurley, Berkshire

SIR – Our Brexit bill, regardless of its size, should only be offered on the condition that Britain will judge if “sufficient progress” has been made on an acceptable trade deal.

Bryan Lack
Banbury, Oxfordshire

 

SIR – If, during a round of negotiations, it should become clear to one side that the other has no intention of working towards an agreement which takes account of the needs of both parties, the time may well have been reached when it would be prudent and correct to walk away.

By any reasonable standard, vis-à-vis our current negotiations with the EU, that time appears to be with us now. We would be well advised to recognise reality for what it is and react accordingly, while there is still time. All parties must get down to the short strokes, or call it a day.

Neale Edwards
Chard, Somerset

SIR – What a timely article by Gerald Howarth. Europe’s decision-makers should remember that, had it not been for Britain’s intervention in the two world wars, it is unlikely that they would be in the positions they now hold.

Surely now is the time for them to show some gratitude and help us make a clean break.

Nick Woolmer
Sherborne, Dorset

 

SIR – Angela Merkel is touted as “the strong woman of Europe”, yet she has never won an outright majority and is now unable to form a coalition. Mrs May, on the other hand, has won outright and has formed a coalition.

Has she taken Mrs Merkel’s place as the strong woman of Europe?

Michael Edwards
Haslemere, Surrey

 

Scrapping stamp duty

SIR – Stamp duty is a destructive tax and should be abolished. It clogs up the market, stopping people from moving when they want or need to, such as for a new job or to downsize. That harms productivity and keeps some elderly couples in houses that are far too big, and families in homes too small for them.

Scrapping it would increase turnover and efficiency in the housing market, and lead to more transactions and more investment in home improvements. The increase in economic activity and productivity would offset some of the lost revenue, and provide work for more builders and tradesmen.

Relief for first-time buyers only would be a gimmick that produces next to no economic benefit.

Tax should not be about picking winners and losers – it should be used to maximise prosperity, efficiency and growth. Scrapping stamp duty would show that the Chancellor is serious about delivering lower, simpler taxes for Britain.

Mark Littlewood
Director general, Institute of Economic Affairs

John O’Connell
Chief executive, TaxPayers’ Alliance

Sam Bowman
Director, Adam Smith Institute

Celia Sawyer

Russell Quirk
Founder and CEO, eMoov.co.uk

Professor Kevin Dowd
Professor of finance and economics, Durham University

Jon Moynihan
Chairman, Ipex Capital

Professor David Myddelton
Emeritus professor of finance and accounting, Cranfield University

Graeme Leach
CEO and chief economist, Macronomics

 

Drivers’ details

SIR – Not only will private car parks cash in after obtaining access to DVLA data, but this will also encourage scammers purporting to be car park operators.

I propose that the DVLA website highlights all the specific fields of customer data that may be sold on application (possibly including email addresses), and publishes a regularly updated list of all data purchasers. This will help vehicle-keepers ensure that their data is secure.

Paul Miskin
Loughborough, Leicestershire

 

Pressure on clergy

SIR – You report that “pressure on bishops and clergy to grow their audience” is leading to “clergy self-harm”.

I urge every Christian in the Church of England to write to their local bishops and to Justin Welby, encouraging them to abandon this corporate policy of targets, before parish clergy are driven into the ground.

Graham Coombes
Winkleigh, Devon

 

Prepared for the worst

SIR – Aidan Chivers (Letters, November 16), working as a teacher in France, believes that there could be no “greater coup for terrorists than for the institutions of France to collaborate in telling children that they are never safe, not even in their own schools”. He is “stunned” that schools have a twice-a-year drill, for children to practise hiding under their desks in darkened classrooms in case of a terrorist attack.

Which planet is Mr Chivers living on? Regrettably, none of us are safe from terrorism, as has been shown all too often. Making everyone aware of the risks is designed to save lives and prevent serious injury.

I would guess that Mr Chivers has been involved, while teaching in England or indeed when he was a pupil, in practice fire drills. What does he feel about these?

Trevor Anderson
Wadhurst, East Sussex

 

Not all city trees are good news for asthmatics

The Large Plane Trees (Road Menders at Saint-Rémy) by Vincent van Gogh, 1889
The Large Plane Trees (Road Menders at Saint-Rémy) by Vincent van Gogh, 1889 Credit: bridgemanart.com

SIR – The idea of tree-lined urban streets is most welcome. However, if we are to combat asthma, the varieties of tree should be carefully considered.

Plane trees, and also birch varieties, have been used in the past because they can thrive in polluted conditions. Unfortunately, like many others, I have an allergic reaction to tree pollen; it starts around March and seems to continue all year, especially if I visit cities populated with these particular trees.

Marion Gilbert
Long Buckby, Northamptonshire

 

Sober logic

SIR – Martin Johnson (Letters, November 18) asks who will get the extra profit under alcohol minimum pricing from the increase in the cost of a bottle of cider.

As the purpose of the scheme is to reduce the number of such bottles sold, the overall profit going to the retailer may actually fall.

Michael Robinson
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

 

Driven to distraction by Howards End

Aunt Juley (Tracey Ullman) and Margaret (Hayley Atwell) in Howards End
Aunt Juley (Tracey Ullman) and Margaret (Hayley Atwell) in Howards End Credit: laurie sparham

SIR – Perhaps the worst anachronism so far in the BBC’s adaptation of Howards End (Letters, November 20) was the car shown driving past the family house bearing a registration number starting with the letters HO.

The story is set in Edwardian England. The HO series was not issued until 1916.

Nicholas Young
London W13

 

SIR – Another problem with Howards End is the over-enthusiastic use of computer-enhanced backgrounds: there are some very digital-looking scenes of Edwardian London.

The director obviously thinks viewers do not notice these – but 
they do.

Anthony Whitehead
Bristol

 

SIR – Never mind the jam spoon, or the hats for that matter. I would like to know who’s going to pick up the bill for repolishing the tea table upon which Miss Schlegel plonked the teapot after having poured a cuppa. Or will she blame the hapless maid?

Daniel Campbell
Poole, Dorset

 

SIR – Charlotte Barker (Letters, November 20) may be relieved to know that there were effective methods for slicing a loaf of bread at the time of E M Forster’s novel.

How, otherwise, could adults have enjoyed those dainty tea sandwiches in the late afternoon? There were also devices for toasting bread without having to resort to a toasting fork, but only for the better-off.

When I was a child I was taught never to cut toasted bread with the edge of a knife but to tear it gently with my fingers. Butter and preserve had to be placed on the side of the plate, using an appropriate knife and spoon, and from there spread discreetly on the toast.

As a result, I avoided eating toast until I went away to school – where we all, merrily, used the Aunt Juley method to fill up at breakfast time.

Ian R Lowry
Reading, Berkshire

 

Feast for all tastes

SIR – Having read Shane Watson’s diatribe against the Christmas “Get Aheads” – or Good Organisers, as we prefer to be called – I felt I should offer the other side of the coin.

I am 86, and this year we shall be 18 for Christmas lunch at my house. Six will be under 25, two are coeliacs, two are vegetarian, one is a vegan and two are milk-intolerant. I defy anyone to provide an enjoyable day for such a mixed bunch without much planning.

This does not preclude spontaneity: last year an expedition to swim on Gwithian Beach at 11am on Christmas morning resulted in demand for hot showers. But if things are properly organised we can all enjoy a (relatively) stress-free day and take pleasure in each other’s company.

W M Price
Redruth, Cornwall

 

Stranger danger

SIR – James Farrington (Letters, November 20) asks where all the hitchhikers have gone.

They’ve disappeared into the miasma of fear in which we live. In-your-face crime reporting has helped to generate an atmosphere of exaggerated anxiety, with every stranger seen as a threat.

In my youth the world was seen as basically friendly.

Stuart Ashton
Whitley Bay, Northumberland

 

SIR – I once gave a lift to a bedraggled hitchhiker on the A4 simply because he was holding a board saying: “Bath please.”

Michael Draper
Nether Wallop, Hampshire

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