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Cruelty continues

My thanks goes out to both Ian Titcombe and also Des Morgan (SA 1st December) as it would appear that I may unwittingly have been a victim of the modern phenomenon of ‘fake news’ of which some of the contents of my letter regarding the sentience of animals was based upon, and had originated from a false report that had been given previously in the Independent newspaper, according to Ian.

I based my story upon the information that I had to hand and so I will reserve judgement over as to whether the current Tory administration has taken the action of my local MP Robert Buckland in voting down an amendment to the European withdrawal, and that the reasoning behind it was to ensure that there would be stronger protection written in to law, and for reasons that I will give later, as also time will tell of course.

However Des chose to mention that in his opinion Michael Gove has an acknowledged good track record on issues relating to animals and if this is indeed the case then it would appear that at long last he may have found something that he may ‘excel at’ at long last in contrast to having been a quite appalling Education Minister.

I am thankful to Des for pointing out that currently EU law allows the barbaric practice of bull fighting to continue, donkey abuse, and puppies allowed across borders at the tender age of 11 weeks and which is clearly wrong but seems to be synonymous with practices on the European continent and not here in the UK, and sadly is likely to continue when we leave the EU.

Des is however indeed correct in suggesting that he supposes that it would be asking too much for me to apologise as Ben Fogle purportedly did for his error as I am sure that he will recall that prior to the last general election the Tories campaigned upon reserving the right if being elected with a clear majority to grant the commons a ‘free vote’ over the reintroducing the barbaric practices of fox hunting and hare coursing, despite polls showing that 86% of the population of this country are clearly against a practice that dates back to feudal Britain, and akin to the middle ages.

I will also stand with what I said in that Theresa May’s Tory administration has misled the Commons in so much as it was clearly pledged that EU law would be brought over into English law in its entirety until it could be modified at a later date, however we now have the spectacle of cherry picking the parts it wishes to keep, whilst swathes of it are subjected to ‘deletion’ of which will no doubt water down the rights that are enjoyed by EU citizens particularly in regard to the workplace and the rights of workers and also protections for the elderly, to name but a few.

Finally the current Tory government cannot be trusted on human rights as it was recently chastised by the UN in respect of its sordid treatment of UK disabled people therefore I would like to ask Des as to why he thinks that they can be either trusted over animal rights in a post brexit world?

GA WOODWARD, Nelson Street, Swindon

Lessons to learn

I WOULD like to respond to Martin Costello’s letter in the Advertiser on the December 1, which was titled We are all Brexiters.

Martin Costello must take some history lessons and learn how to compare like with like. Mugabe’s departure with UK leaving the EU is bizarre. The man ruined his country, whereas the EU made so many contributions to the UK and the British society as a whole.

Zimbabwe is opening up to the world, whereas the UK is closing its doors to its fellow Europeans.

Zimbabwe is celebrating because its citizens can look forward to a new dawn as in post Mubage rule, economy will boost. This is not what the UK is embracing. The economy is already showing signs of decline. A growth rate of one per cent, slipping from 1.6 %. What a joke!

Zimbabwe’s minority (mainly whites) is looking forward to the racists being removed from power eventually, whereas British minority is living with the fear that the far right could come in power and oppress the minority.

Can Mr Costello guarantee the rights of minorities living in Britain?

FAIQ AHMED, North Swindon

What does he mean?

It’s not a good idea to speculate on what Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, was getting at when he recently stated that a disorderly Brexit would not be good for the UK economy.

I for one would like to hear what Mr Carney meant by a disorderly Brexit.

NOEL GARDNER, Carlisle Avenue, Swindon

Forces are necessary

My quote “you will never stops wars” is just that you will not. Mr Smith, once again you have incorrectly read mine and others’ letters - where in my letter have I said anything about sacrificing our troops?

My whole letter was about the Legion and how much effort, support and help both in war and peace time they have carried out for our armed forces and the families at home. I served and was proud to serve in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces for 12 years and would do so again if old father time had not caught up with me.

I joined up as a volunteer just like hundreds of thousands of others. My main point was because of the nature of the job it was a dangerous place to be in a lot of the time; we lost people through one thing and another and the Legion was always on hand to help the families back home offering comfort and support through trying times.

Get my point now Peter? I take it from your letters you have never served in the forces so you would have no need of the Legion. You are wrong about service personnel being killed in countries they were not invited nor wanted; if help is asked for by the elected rulers of a country and it’s agreed by our elected leaders to help, there’s the invitation to enter said country.

I again must agree with Des Morgan’s and JH Oliver’s letter (SA 30th November) - it seems to me you do not like your freedom of choice and free speech that has been hard won by others.

JOHN L CROOK, Haydon Wick, Swindon

This noise annoys

Can anyone please tell me when awful repetitive warbling that all sounds the same became the music of Britain? We used to enjoy The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Jam, The Who, etc etc.

Now we have endless soundalike nobodies who are famous for two weeks then disappear. You can’t remember their songs after two minutes unless you’re a nine-year-old girl. R&B is a form of music that is instantly forgettable and often relies on ridiculous up-and-down vocals that anyone over the age of adulthood hates passionately.

Stop It. Sing in a normal voice and for God’s sake stop repeating the same sentences over and over again.

ROGER LACK, North Swindon

Bitter sweet

Beyond all the headlines from the Budget, the Treasury have also now said that the expected revenue from the sugar tax next year will be just £275 million.

When the tax was first announced 18 months ago, we were told it would raise £520 million for school sports and breakfast clubs. Then they said it would raise £380 million, and now they are saying it will raise a paltry £275 million.

Is this unpopular tax really the best way to fund something as important as school sports?

BROOK WHELAN, Chief Executive of People against Sugar Tax