YP Letters: Attempts to derail Brexit strengthen case

I WONDER how many of your readers, like me, find the activism of the remoaning community not just irritating but also comical. The more they refight the referendum, the more they demonstrate that the decision to leave was absolutely correct.

Their recent attempt to derail Brexit in the Court of Appeal has exposed another flaw in our relationship with the EU. By denying the Government the use of Crown Prerogative powers to trigger Article 50, effectively the court – seemingly without realising – signalled that the original signing of the Economic Communities Act 1972 was illegal.

Activist judges cannot have it both ways. If only Parliament can remove people’s rights, then the Accession Treaty (also passed by Crown Prerogative powers) must be illegal and the whole UK-EU relationship is null and void. There should be no need formally to leave what we have never legally joined. So triggering Article 50 is merely a courtesy measure.

When the UK signed the Accession Treaty in 1972 there had been no legislative approval by Parliament. No MP or anyone knew what the Government was negotiating, there was no referendum in which the Government asserted that “ you, the people, will decide”. The exact opposite is the case today.

Let’s get on with it.

From: John D Clark, Burnsall.

HOW comforting it was to read Lord Mervyn King, the former Governor of the Bank of England, when he said he resented suggestions that if you voted for Brexit you must be either ignorant, uneducated, stupid or racist. I certainly don’t consider myself “a deplorable”.

I do, however, regret voting for the Common Market in the early 1970s, having thought that it was purely a trading organisation that might have the added benefit of helping towards maintaining peace after the horrors of two World Wars (my father fought in both of them as a regular soldier, in the first one as a teenager).

We were, of course, misled by Edward Heath and others who knew all too well that something very different was planned.

We need now to unite and ensure that there is a successful outcome to the negotiations.

Bleating from the likes of Nick Clegg and Tim Farron must stop. There will be so many opportunities for this great country; we should be optimistic about our future.

Speaking out of turn

From: Dick Lindley, Altofts, Normanton.

THE Speaker of the House of Commons made the biggest mistake of his entire career when he said that the democratically-elected leader of the free world and our greatest ally, President Trump, will not be welcome at the House of Commons.

It is an own goal for John Bercow, but that in itself is of little consequence.

Of much more importance is the damage this could cause to our future trade deals with the US, and our future security should war break out.

I am almost ( but not quite) lost for words. Who on earth does he think he is?

I hope the more sensible and responsible MPs will find a way to sack this inept politician, apologise to President Trump and install someone with political shrewdness and British finesse to replace him.

Look for the certificate

From: Mrs CA Gannon, Flats Lane, Barwick-in-Elmet.

AFTER reading recent newspaper articles, why oh why wasn’t displaying the Food Hygiene Certificate made mandatory from the outset?

Most food establishments seem to manage a four or five star rating and usually display the sign near entrance doors.

I have on occasion seen a three star rating. I can only assume those that don’t display the green certificates are rated in the 0-2 star group.

I am aware points can be lost through paperwork not being up to date but I am sure most customers would prefer that those food outlets which score below three are closed until improvements are made and they are re-inspected.

We continually hear about “health and safety” yet this aspect seems to have been overlooked. Perhaps it is we, the customers, who need to be more savvy?

If we don’t see a Hygiene Certificate displayed, perhaps we should spend our money elsewhere?

Missed chance to bridge gap

From: Edward Grainger, Botany Way, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

TWO editorials (The Yorkshire Post, February 2) were complimentary to each other, with regard to the growing perception that “the Government does not sufficiently value 
the importance of the Yorkshire region” and the Prime Minister’s acknowledgement that “forbearance and resilience have been shown by local residents” in respect of the delays over the reconstruction of the bridge at Tadcaster over the Wharfe.

What a great shame that the PM missed an opportunity to show she cares about Yorkshire and rearranged her commitments to be there when the new bridge reopened.

Broccoli is no great loss...

From: Mrs June Wolfe, Sutherland Road, Lightcliffe.

THE people who are complaining about the lack of certain vegetables obviously never lived through the war.

I could happily live without all the items in question, particularly broccoli, which is 
my least favourite vegetable.