Letters: Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters.

Scotland and the EU

IN THE discussions about Scotland’s relationship with the UK and the EU, there seems to be a lot of emotion but very little fact.

Is this because some politicians are ignorant of the rules that apply to membership of the EU? Or is it because they are deliberately trying to deceive, or mislead, the public?

As I understand it (and I stand to be corrected if I am wrong), the facts are:

1. Scotland is currently a member of the United Kingdom. The people of Scotland voted to ‘remain’ in the UK in a referendum only three years ago.

2. Scotland, currently, has access to the EU only because the UK is a member of the EU.

3. If Scotland were to become an ‘independent country’ now, it would cease to be a member of the UK and so would no longer be a member of the EU. It would have to apply for membership as a country in its own right.

4. Any (new) country that is successful in its application to join the EU has to adopt ‘the Euro’ – the currency of the EU. Is this attractive to the Scots?

5. ‘Scotland’ did NOT vote to ‘remain’ in the EU in the referendum last June. The referendum was a vote of ALL the people of the UK – who voted to ‘leave’. It is true that the votes were counted in different localities, many of which may, individually, have had majorities for or against leaving or remaining; but the majority vote, OVER THE WHOLE OF THE UK, was to leave.

6. Those who are about to start negotiating the conditions that will determine our relationship with the EU after the UK has left the EU can only negotiate terms that apply to the whole of the UK – not separately for any particular part of the UK.

So, let us stop this internecine bickering and let OUR (UK) Government get on with the negotiations.

MALCOLM MORRISON, Prospect Hill, Swindon

Christ loves us all

AS Jeff Adams and other Adver readers will have noticed from my previous letters about the C of E and gay marriage, my Christianity lies not in the imprisoning strictures of the Old Testament but in the liberating second commandment of Christ.

There I am asked, in love, to step into the shoes of my gay neighbours, to feel their hurt and rejection by my Church. Then to try to do something about their situation.

I do not have children or relatives who are gay, but if, among my own children there happened to be a child who was would I, or would you if it were your child, deem that child as unworthy of being a full, equal member of the family?

Would you deny him or her from receiving the same love and benefits of human life, dignity and experiences that you would grant to your other children and yourself?

It is obvious that the C of E has a painful, festering sore upon its body which needs healing. That will not be achieved by bishops and doctrine but by the unconditional, unreserved love of its congregations.

That is why I called upon churches to begin talking, praying and be welcoming so that that process can begin.

I do agree with Jeff on one thing. The silence of clergy and the Bishop of Swindon is astonishing.

Perhaps the Adver will formally invite the Bishop to write a piece to let everyone know why and where he stands on this matter.

The Archbishop of Canterbury recently said “the way forward needs to be about love, joy and celebration of our common humanity, of our creation in the image of God, of our belonging to Christ - all of us, without exception, without exclusion.”

So let us all move forward in that love. Helpful wisdom from another Bishop can be found by googling “Rt Rev James Jones’ 10th Anniversary Ebor Lecture.”

ALAN SCOTFORD, Chippenham

Church does change

DES Morgan makes these points: The Church of England is entitled in law to refuse to sanction gay marriage within its buildings and he challenges the “gay lobby” insisting the C of E change its rules in this regard.

I wrote in support of that latter campaign to change those rules because the existence of those rules can add to the difficulties faced by gay people in our society; in short for reasons of equality.

Given Des’ emphasis on rules it’s worth taking a wider look at that question.

In November 2002 General Synod of the C of E agreed to rescind the Convocation Resolutions which exhorted clergy not to permit the remarriage of divorced persons in Church. (The resolutions referred to were passed in 1957, confirming 1938 resolutions. ) It was only in 1969 that the C of E ended its ban on people born outside of marriage holding high office in the Church.

Through the 1960s the C of E shifted its position on divorce from “matrimonial blame” (someone’s at fault when a marriage breaks down) to “irretrievable breakdown” as justification for divorce.

It is fairly clear from this brief review that it is not unknown for the C of E to change its rules.

I would guess this always happens through a minority raising the argument which results in the church recalibrating itself with the society around it.

PETER SMITH, Woodside Avenue, Swindon

We already have talent

NIKKI Dancey, MU delegate to Swindon TUC, opines: “The people of Swindon deserve access to affordable cultural, social and educational activities” (SA 18 March) which begs the question ‘don’t they already have such access?’ Nikki believes the solution could be provided in the form of a rejuvenated Mechanics’ Institute.

I consider myself to be a passionate supporter of the arts in Swindon and I bemoan the constant jibes about Swindon being a cultural desert when in fact it’s a veritable oasis of talent.

I know many different performing groups which rehearse in community centres, working men’s clubs and school halls and who present the best of Swindon at venues such as the Wyvern, the Arts Centre and a number of smaller theatres in the town.

The Mechanics’ Institute has been empty for more than 30 years, it has been the subject of debate in the SA for even longer.

Nine years ago you published a letter from me in which I said “All the plans for the MI have been opposed by local action groups and despite the comments of the planning inspector who said ‘The fact remains that there is no positive alternative for the building that can be shown to be effective in terms of securing its restoration, refurbishment and future maintenance’, opposition to anything other than return to a community based building still continue."

Maybe it would have been better to have gained some benefit from the site during the past 22 years rather than continue to believe that a magic fairy will appear, sprinkle the site with fairy dust and lo and behold Swindon will have a new Mechanics rising as a phoenix from the ashes – such a belief is indeed for the fairies.

DES MORGAN, Caraway Drive, Swindon

Industry creates jobs

THE letter of Peter Smith (Mar 18) states his concern that the profits from industry only go to a rich tiny minority.

He seems to have forgotten that industry also creates a great many well paid jobs for the British working class.

Manufacturing industry tends to create well paid jobs while within the service sector the jobs tend to be mostly at the national minimum wage.

Labour has a history of not supporting British industry. The Labour Government under Tony Blair refused to support MG Rover when it got into difficulties in 2005.

Derick Robinson, also known as Red Robbo, helped bring down this mighty company in the 1970s with wildcat strikes.

In 2005 Britain lost its last British-owned volume car producer. In letting MG Rover go to the wall Labour showed that it had no interest in wealth creation and was only concerned with spending tax payers’ money.

Every day these left wingers think up new ways to spend our money but they are not willing to face the hard work involved in wealth creation.

STEVE HALDEN, Beaufort Green, Swindon

String of failures

ROLL up, roll up and join the gravy train of political failures. That includes failed politicians and party donors, not to mention ex-Prime Ministers and their nodding donkey submissives and inadequate advisers.

They could not even advise Swindon Council how to save their seats when the moment of truth approaches regarding the state of the town centre, its extortionate business charges and the increase in council tax for fewer services.

And many of them are on salaries most of us could not even dream about in the best of times.

I refer in the first instance to the gravy train at tax payers’ expense, not far behind them are Swindon councillors who are more interested in a museum than people sleeping on the streets, handicapped children’s homes being closed and the elderly’s meals on wheels service being reduced.

Or am I missing something in what I read and see all around me?

BILL WILLIAMS, Merlin Way, Covingham, Swindon