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Bad for trade

In reply to John Stooke (Aug 17), Britain runs a trade deficit with the EU of a billion pounds a week after accounting for services.

Britain runs the worst trade deficit in the developed world because the EU has been bad for trade.

Before we joined the EU we had full employment and cheap houses. Now unemployment is up to four per cent and the average house price is nine times the average wage.

EU membership has created a disastrous National Debt in Britain of nearly two trillion pounds.

Britain is in permanent austerity. Because of our EU membership Britain can no longer afford to properly fund council house building, libraries, public toilets, police, road maintenance, schools and the NHS.

Steve Halden, Beaufort Green, Swindon

Deserving of apology

Two letters in the SA 14 August that I would like to respond to. Can I point out to Chris Gleed that a lady wearing a burka has to identify herself before appearing in a court of law.

Janet Woodman says that Boris Johnson shouldn’t have to apologise for his comments on the wearing of the Burka (if I remember correctly Janet, did you not recently ask Jeff Adams for an apology over comments he expressed in a recent letter of his?). Maybe those Muslim ladies who wear they burka and who have been attacked physically and verbally by racist thugs since Johnson’s comments think differently. Why does Janet believe that a person who is offended by comments that appear on the letters page of the SA is worthy of an apology but ladies that are victims of an unprovoked racist assault instigated by comments made by a politician are not?

Martin Webb, Swindon Road, Old Town

The perfect place

I agree with the letter in the Advertiser of August 16th, that instead of a new building to display Swindon’s art and historical items, the building where the House of Fraser is at present could be an option.

As the writer said, it does not need renovation. The Mechanics Institute and the Locarno do and should both be restored. If they were one of them could be used as an art gallery/museum

Mary Rogers, Swindon

Pet life savers

May I through your letters page say a very, very big thank you to the lady in a car, a BT van and also a Range Rover who all kindly stopped to help my son when our pet dog collapsed while out on a walk.

Because you all worked together to rush him to the vets, I am pleased to say you saved his life.

He will be on medication but he is back to his old self. I would also like to thank the vets and all the other staff at Thameswood Vets.

Mrs E M Lewis, Bourne Road, Swindon