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Abdicated responsibility

A COUPLE of months ago I expressed concern that the Conservative MP for North Swindon, Justin Tomlinson, was very rarely seen in parliament and that one possibility was that he was on a ‘sponsored silence’. Those sentiments were also echoed by other readers who responded to your newspaper.

Given the enormity of the effects on Brexit on the living standards and livelihoods of all UK residents but particularly given the vulnerability to employment prospects within Swindon with major employers, eg Honda, BMW and Nissan being threatened by the possibility of closure or redeployment, it would not be unreasonable to expect our MP to participate in the five days of debates scheduled prior to the historic vote on December 11.

On watching the debates many MPs contributed daily with interventions promoting their electorates’ interests but sadly no sign of the member for North Swindon either to speak or as a spectator in the chamber.

The chief executive of Honda UK stated that the effect of Brexit would result in 200 lorries being delayed at Dover or nearby ports on a daily basis with the inevitable consequences of disrupted manufacturing affecting Swindon’s employment prospects with the workers and their resultant loss of wages. That loss of spending power would also effect the supply chain and dependant businesses.

Swindon residents deserve a great deal better and I trust that when the inevitable election comes around appropriate attention would be given to his inactivity in this vital issue.

Derrick Bye, Thresher Drive, Swindon

Is it the best deal?

Something to remember before discussing the £39 billion ransom.

1. The Germans make the EU rules to suit themselves. The French break or bend the rules to suit themselves. The English being so honest and moral just employ more civil servants to implement the rules.

2. Theresa May on the doorsteps of N0.10 “No deal is better than a bad deal”.

The PM after months of talks has obtained the best and only deal for the EU. Sorry that should read the UK.

The ransom agreed is £39 billion and for that the EU will allow us to leave (in name only) on the 29th March 2019. However we will be on probation for the next two years and subject to all the rules and regulations and will also have to pay our yearly fines. We are not allowed to talk to any friends with a view to do any deals unless the EU allows us. And if we adhere to all their rules for the next two years they may agree to let us leave with a few crumbs from their table. If they need any more money to shore up their crumbling empire then we may never be allowed to leave with good grace. So there you have a good deal and the only deal, arranged with the EU after months of bargaining and tough decisions on surrender.

By the way £39 billion over a year works out to £750 million a week and £375 million a week over two years. When you add the extra £10 billion (provided they give us one) or £15/17 billion (with no rebate) a year the totals are enhanced by £200/£330 a week.

Now do you all agree that this is the best deal available?

Mr D N Simpson, Graham Street, Swindon

Regulations enforced

Alan Spencer voices an objection, which I’m sure many of us share, to people from the EU and elsewhere coming to the UK without money or the prospect of a job, (Good golly, Miss Molly, S. A. 8th December). Inevitably many of them end up a burden on the state. He concludes by saying the EU must see the logic behind restricting free movement to those who can support themselves by taking up job vacancies. I can assure him it does!

The EU regulations, which the UK helped to formulate, empower our Government to return any non-UK citizen of the EU to their country of origin if they rely on benefits for a period of six months. Obviously, the UK citizens working elsewhere in the EU are subject to the same regulations.

In recent years the Home Office has applied Teresa May’s policy of hostility to migrants with such rigour that even members of the Windrush generation, holding decades-old rights to residency, have been sent packing. Under these circumstances I feel confident that any non-UK citizen of the EU not in gainful employment will be back claiming benefits in their country of origin, not in the UK.

Don Reeve, Horder Mews, Old Town