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Hijacked EU debate

SARAH Wollaston MP, until now a Brexiteer, has slammed Leave camp’s “shameful” claims about the NHS and “financial lie” that we send the EU £350 million a week.

Wollaston, chair of the Commons Health Select Committee and a former GP, switched sides in the referendum as a result of disgust at what her colleagues were doing and wrote to the Times: “They have knowingly placed a facial lie at the heart of their campaign, even emblazoning it on their battle bus, alongside the NHS branding, to imply a financial bonanza. It’s an empty promise and one which would soon backfire.

“A strong economy has always been the cornerstone of funding the NHS and for all the arguments about the scale of the economic turbulence, the clear consensus is that the effects of Brexit would be significant and negative.”

This was followed by the, until recently, Brexit-backing Labour MP Khalid Mahmood denouncing the campaign he had previously been a part of, stating: “The issue for me is the economy, but the debate has been hijacked by people to do with immigration and racism.

“My issue is also with Priti Patel’s remarks about workers’ rights. For somebody who is a leading voice in the out campaign to make those sort of comments is disregarding workers’ rights – that really is not where I am. I take workers’ rights very very seriously.”

As these campaigners have realised, the only certainty leaving the EU can guarantee is uncertainty for our families’ future.

ALEX HEGENBARTH

Head of Britain Stronger In Europe, Swindon

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Grateful for your help

HIGHWORTH and District Branch of the RNLI would like to thank all who supported us at the Swindon Garden Centre on Sunday, May 29.

We raised £211.64 (2015 £131.57).

Our grateful thanks to Swindon Garden Centre for allowing us to use their premises.

RON ROSE

Publicity officer for Highworth and District RNLI

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Homeless on the rise

THE story about the group of homeless people that were violently attacked while sleeping rough in the Whalebridge car park was very disturbing.

In a modern democratic society there should always be emergency accommodation for homeless people to get them off the streets into a safe secure environment.

There are already 1.4 million people waiting for a council house so a much cheaper alternative is required.

Some sort of cheap overnight stay accommodation is needed to cover people that are in emergency situations.

The rising number of working class people that are homeless shows that the EU is not working.

TERRY HAYWARD

Burnham Road

Swindon

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Empires eventually fall

THE Roman Empire dominated Europe for over a thousand years.

It eventually collapsed because within every nation there is a yearning for independence.

The fall of the Roman Empire led to freedom and democracy in Europe.

However benign an empire might be, countries are always happier and more prosperous when they are independent.

Britain has a chance to vote for independence on June 23.

STEVE HALDEN

Beaufort Green, Swindon