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Fact versus fiction

HOW amazing that the letters page on November 24 started with a plea from Malcolm Morrison to be wary of how statistics are used, and ended with Jeff Adams misusing statistics.

I do like reading Jeff’s letters, although he does demonstrate a contempt for the Queen and her husband which I personally find quite sad as I am sure neither has done anything to justify his ire.

But back to the issue of facts versus fiction, the Windsors are not the richest land owning family in the world, they are not even the richest in the UK and the Queen doesn’t even ‘own’ what is referred to as Crown Property.

However, the Crown Estate does provide substantial revenue for the nation and the Queen receives a fixed percentage of the revenue to run the Royal Household.

Buckingham Palace is not owned by the Queen and she neither needs or uses 250 bedrooms and 78 bathrooms which, incidentally, are for the use of staff who occupy 188 bedrooms in the palace.

The palace consists of 775 rooms, of which only 52 are used by members of the Royal Family or visitors.

What Jeff stubbornly refuses to accept is that the Queen in her role as a Constitutional monarch cannot ‘summon the PM of the day and tell him/her what to do’ – that state of affairs ended when Charles I lost his head in 1649.

Jeff asserts that ‘never in his life has he encountered a tourist who said they visited the UK because of them’ and that’s is probably true of may visitors to our shores.

However, I believe the same could be said of Stonehenge, The Houses of Parliament and many other historical locations.

The reality is that the monarchy, embodied in the person of the Queen and revealed in a number of palaces and castles, does attract an awful lot of attention and visitors.

And for many the opportunity to see the Queen is the cherry on the cake, why else would they peer through the railings at the palace?

I acknowledge that Jeff has been steadfast in his loathing of the Royal Family, for my part I believe the Queen has dedicated her life to the service of the country in a way which many cannot or will never fully appreciate.

The Duke of Edinburgh may be an old curmudgeon at times but, at the age of 95, he still turns out to do his duty.

As a monarchist I value the Royal Family as a sign of stability in a very uncertain political world.

As a realist, I accept that the Queen is very unlikely to act against the advice of her ministers. As a citizen of the UK I would rather have my Queen than a president.

DES MORGAN

Caraway Drive

Swindon

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NHS future at stake

DID the Department of Health really win the recent court case? The judge’s ruling is an interesting legal technicality – that “Hunt was not imposing the contract but merely encouraging employers to introduce it.”

This is because junior doctors are actually employed by their local trusts and not by the DoH; but I wonder how many trusts will dare to reject Mr Hunt’s advice?

This dispute, which has been going on for many months, has done untold damage to the morale of junior doctors (better named “trainee doctors” because many have been qualified for several years) who are future “senior” doctors of the NHS (both GPs and hospital consultants).

Indeed, the morale of all frontline staff is low because of the way they too, have been treated. But, may I warn the public - all potential patients - that more trouble lies ahead.

Mr Hunt wants to introduce new contracts for both GPs and consultants that are also considered to be unacceptable to these groups (for practical more than pecuniary reasons).

Mr Hunt must understand that he cannot run a health service without doctors. The future of the NHS is at stake.

MALCOLM MORRISON

Prospect Hill

Old Town

Swindon

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Why was trial needed?

I SEE that the trial has taken place at the Old Bailey, of Thomas Mair who brutally murdered Labour MP Jo Cox and used extreme violence in so doing.

In a report, the journalist stated: “There had to be a trial.” Can I ask why? It was blatantly obvious who carried out the attack, so why do we have such an expensive use of funds etc to initiate the punishment?

I also see reports that our Prison Services cannot cope, drugs are easily smuggled in, along with other things, prisoners are complaining and protesting, so what do we need to do?

How about some form of ‘punishment’! Do away with some of the ‘essentials’ for prisoners, like food and drink, laundry facilities, TV and internet, access to books etc, games rooms, gyms, medical and dental treatment etc.

Let’s not think about ‘rehabilitation’, let’s think about going back over years, as the present ‘do gooders’ system doesn’t seem to be working.

The response to this will be, “Oh but it is.”

Do I care? Not a jot. Let’s start making prisons the place not to go back to.

If you re-offend you will be more severely punished so it is up to you to go straight when you are released.

Let’s start making prisons places to be feared, not a ‘holiday’ to look forward to.

Anyone found using a drone to deliver items to prisoners will have to face an operation for a surgical implantation of the drone in a place where the sun does not shine!! Oh, and that will be filmed by the camera on the drone!!!

I have been without computer access for a fair while so I couldn’t respond to the reply from an initial letter that I sent in about cyclists etc.

That was inadvertently flushed down the toilet to join the inane comment received.If that respondent would like a drive with me in my car, so that I can show how I deal with cyclists, he is very welcome to contact me. if you hold my contact details for him to facilitate that offer.

I now sit back and wait for the response so that I can punish myself by poking myself in the eye with a fork!!!

CHRIS GLEED

Proud Close

Purton

Swindon

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Implement Brexit now

SO OUR MEP for the Green Party says that if we are sensible we will all vote to stay in the corrupt and criminal European Union.

This is the same outfit that cannot get their balance sheets and audits signed off for the last 20 years. This is what you really want?

Perhaps it’s because Molly Scott Cato is one of those on the Gravy Train, after all if you have a Golden Goose you dont ring its neck do you?

Did anyone warn us that we were going to be charged the vast amounts that we are paying into this greedy club’s coffers forever and a day?

Molly Scott Cato is picking her so-called statistics from some very dubious sources and the figures she quotes just don’t add up if you read the newspapers.

She says 85 per cent of British manufacturers want to remain in the EU. That’s the equivalent to telling you that most prisoners want to stay in jail.

Have you noticed that business is actually picking up again, not going down, as this lady predicted.

She quotes figures that completely baffle most people, but there again don’t most politicians? What exactly is her area of expertise. Except that is, getting paid by Brussels.

Just tell me in explicit detail what being in the European Union brought to this Scepter’d Isle.

We currently have a surplus of immigrants. We helped in the bail out of Greece, even though we are not in the so called Eurozone.

Furthermore, Brussels tells our Sovereign Courts of Justice what they can and can’t do.Now look at the debacle which is taking place because an Immigrant is trying to stop Brxit. This is now going to the Supreme Court of Appeal. What chance does it have with our Biased judges? This is not democracy.

We voted, democratically, for Brexit and it should therefore be implemented immediately. Not at the benefit of some whingers who just want to stay at any cost to our country.

Then again Molly Scott Cato comes up with the old chestnut of Climate Change, what the hell is Europe doing about that, apart from chucking out lots of laws that stop many of our industries functioning efficiently.

We, the Brits are the second biggest contributor to the EU purse. Germany is the biggest and only because they wanted Germany to be reunited.

Good for them. But they have paid through the nose for it.

Perhaps they are starting to realise that when it comes down to it the EU does nothing for nothing. Good night Angela Merkell. At least we hope so, especially if the Germans have any sense.

We are paying through the nose but what have we got out of it? Nothing except interference in all Britain’s affairs.

The referendum, I know which way I voted. Now, shortly we hope, Molly Scot will be out of a job.

But perhaps thats really what is worrying her.

DAVID COLLINS

Blake Crescent

Swindon

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Investment is low in UK

IN MONDAY’S Adver Steve Halden simply repeats his previous letter.

He fails to address the flaws in his previous effort (the complete misunderstanding of GDP) and adds more.

He thinks reference to the current account deficit gives some support to his ramshackle argument supporting austerity.

It doesn’t. Lack of investment helps to explain the deficit he refers to.

UK investment is low and Government austerity compounds this.

He says immigration increases the trade deficit. I don’t hold any candle for pro big business organisations but this is what the hub for top executives “International Trade” says: “It is certainly the case that immigrants, by increasing the productive capacity of the UK, have a positive effect on the UK’s current account, and if immigrants were to embark on some kind of UK exodus, the current account would be a loser.”

The fact remains that austerity is actually all about shifting wealth from the majority to the rich.

It has succeeded in this respect, however useless it has been in terms of helping to strengthen the economy.

PETER SMITH

Woodside Avenue, Swindon

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I’m so proud of Tristan

I WOULD like to congratulate Tristan on his superb letter about the EBacc in last Tuesday’s Letters page, especially as it came from a student in defence of his fellow students and his tutors.

Tristan is a credit to himself, his school and his family.

Malcolm Morrison’s letter in today’s Adver says basically what I thought, especially the reference to the 3Rs, so I will not elaborate further.

Congratulations again Tristan.

I am very proud of you.

GERRY TAYLOR

Newcastle Street, Swindon