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Risks of leaving EU

ONE thing I have noticed when discussing Brexit with people from across the area is that, along with the fact that most people are in favour of staying in the EU, a number of those who are dead-set on voting to leave want to build a story that this is somehow a Second World War re-run between ‘plucky little Britain’ and ‘the German-led super state.’

So let’s get back to reality. The British government still determines the vast majority of policy over every issue of greatest concern to residents – including health, education, pensions, welfare, monetary policy, defence and border security.

The arguments for leaving also ignore the fact that the UK controls more than 98 per cent of its public expenditure.

So is it time, therefore, to rip ourselves out of the European Union?

The risks of doing so are extensive. For example, the UK would be excluded from the process of EU rule-writing, making it a less attractive location for foreign investment.

The UK is unlikely to strike better trade deals alone than it has currently through the EU.

And the UK would have no say in the design of more open EU markets for digital, financial and other services.

Leaving would also have a destabilising effect on the rest of the EU, which will remain Britain’s largest market and will affect thousands of jobs in the local area.

The Leave campaign is more interested in building a story. Let’s vote Remain and focus on building the future.

ALEX HEGENBARTH

Head of Britain Stronger In Europe

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Populations in crisis

FOR the last 80 years the UK has been very good at receiving large numbers of refugees/immigrants from every corner of the globe, into this small island.

So the millions of refugees/immigrants already here, from previous years must surely count for something.

The question is, can we in the UK continue to greatly increase the population at such a rate “for ever more.”

In the UK the birth rate is greater than the death rate. More people are coming to the UK than leaving. The known UK population is 64.6 million (June 30, 2014).

The world population in 1800 was one billion. Now it’s seven billion and counting.

PD COOK

Broome Manor, Swindon

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Thanks for the votes

MAY I, through your pages, place on record my heartfelt thanks to the 387 residents of Covingham and Dorcan ward who placed their trust in me to represent them as an Independent candidate.

Our team achieved 12 per cent of the vote in a short three-month campaign with a new idea in this area and starting from scratch.

We asked the question “Is the time right to take party politics out of local politics?” and 387 people said that it was.

Swindon Independent Movement will continue to offer Swindon people the opportunity to pursue this Independent way of getting people’s voices heard with the goal of SBC Services meeting people’s needs in the best way possible.

TONY HILLIER

Former Independent Candidate

Covingham and Dorcan

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Israel critic is wrong

I WAS rather sad when I read the letter by Peter Smith on May 5 concerning Israel and the Jewish people.

He ranged from condemning Zionism to accusing the Jewish people of colluding with Adolf Hitler, to making the case that the State of Israel is racist.

Then we got the usual hard-left delusions of conspiracy.

All this because Ken Livingstone has been suspended from the Labour Party.

There is a view that when the hard-left and the hard-right are so extreme they meet each other in the same place. Peter Smith makes the case for that opinion.

Let me give you facts. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. You can criticise the Government freely, newspapers can print whatever they want, anyone from any faith can practise their beliefs without fear, all people, irrespective of gender, are equal citizens.

It’s a full, functioning and vibrant democracy, there are Arab members of the Knesset – that single statement demolishes Peter’s argument that it is a racist state.

Name one other place in the Middle East where people have such freedoms?

And if you believe in freedom Peter, why don’t you use your pen or keyboard to condemn Hamas or Hezbollah or the Iranians or the Saudis for the atrocities they commit on a daily basis?

Zionism is a belief in a national home for the Jewish people. The Jewish people have been connected to the land called Israel for 3,000 years.

If you are an anti-Zionist you don’t believe the State of Israel should exist.

So Peter, what’s your plan, forced deportations? To where? Should the Jews be run into the sea, as Hamas and Hezbollah believe?

STEVE JACK

Damson Trees

Shrivenham

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Names that don’t fit

I TOOK a friend to GWH on May 10. While waiting in the massive line of traffic to get into the hospital I noticed the new housing estate.

In these days of NHS campaigns against smoking I find it very strange that a new housing estate 400 metres from the hospital has in part been named ‘Woodbine Terrace.’

What’s next? ‘Ashtray Avenue’ or ‘Cigar Cottages’ or ‘Nicotine Mews’?

There are hundreds of thousands of name possibilities without resorting to tobacco-related names and themes, especially so near to a hospital.

STEVEN BLANCHARD

Woodstock Road

Coleview

Stratton

Swindon