YP Comment: Time for open debate over EU

Ousting of John Longworth gives more ammunition to those who claim it is only acceptable for public figures to have an opinion on the EU if they support staying in.
John Longworth has been suspended as director general of the British Chambers of Commerce.John Longworth has been suspended as director general of the British Chambers of Commerce.
John Longworth has been suspended as director general of the British Chambers of Commerce.

JOHN Longworth is certainly guilty of carelessness for the manner in which he expressed his desire for Britain to leave the European Union. His decision to speak out so unequivocally blurred the lines between personal opinion and his job of representing UK businesses.

It is questionable, however, whether the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce deserved to be suspended on the strength of it. Although the BCC had vowed to remain neutral over the EU question, the move to oust Mr Longworth merely provides more ammunition for those who claim it is only deemed acceptable for public figures to have an opinion on the matter if they support the UK’s continued membership.

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Nor will this development silence those critics of David Cameron who believe the Prime Minister has instituted a climate of fear more suited to Stalinist Russia than a democracy that is engaged in its most important political and economic debate for 40 years.

Downing Street may have denied putting any pressure on the BCC to suspend their leader, but Boris Johnson was yesterday among those who expressed concern that the agents of Project Fear, which appears to be the Remain campaign’s principal – if not only – weapon, were responsible.

The fact is that any suspicion of scaremongering, spinning of information or disproportionate action against those who support an alternate view will only convince voters that such tactics are evidence of the absence of a compelling argument.

Former defence secretary Liam Fox is certainly right to warn that the Conservative Party once again risks inflicting serious self-harm if it allows campaigning to be mired in skullduggery rather than facilitating the open and balanced debate that the public both deserve and require if they are to make the right decision for Britain on June 23.

Open all hours?

Division over Sunday trading reform

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AS if the splits over Europe were not enough, the Tories also face a potential rebellion this week over George Osborne’s plans to relax Sunday trading laws with at least two ministers said to be considering whether to quit in order to vote against the Government.

There is a good argument for reforming 22-year-old legislation which was meant as a compromise but has now been overtaken by changes to the way people live their lives.

In 1994, the Sunday Trading Act allowed shops to open on Sundays but restricted the operating hours of larger stores such as supermarkets. The result is that smaller stores have been opened by these same chains, with customers charged a premium to use them. There is also an element of absurdity to the present regulations when one considers the rise of internet shopping and the fact that a service such as Amazon Prime offers delivery within one hour, around the clock.

In ever busier lives, where time is at a premium and convenience is paramount, Sunday has ceased to be a day of rest. There is a case for allowing the public to shop when they want, provided there are necessary safeguards in place to ensure workers are not pressured into working at the expense of family life.

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But a bigger question is whether the Chancellor should be attempting to change the legislation at this time. Yes, it might provide a driver for economic growth that has been slower than forecast but it was not in the Conservative election manifesto and his party can ill afford further division at this time.

For the moment, it is perhaps an issue that would be better left alone.

Yorkshire’s draw

Reminder of White Rose talent

DAVID Hockney and David Oxtoby were among the group of talented young artists who redrew the boundaries of art as part of the “Bradford Mafia” in the Swinging Sixties.

Now they are enjoying renewed symmetry as their work is the subject of major exhibitions at two of the country’s foremost galleries.

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Tate Britain is hosting an exhibition devoted to Hockney, while fellow Bradford Regional College of Art graduate Oxtoby’s images of rock music legends will be showcased at the British Museum. It is a rare honour for a living artist and testament to the power of his iconic images.

As more than 300,000 photographic items are set to be transferred to London from the National Media Museum in Hockney’s home city, it is a timely reminder too of the enormous contribution to this country’s cultural heritage made by the finest talents of our region – and the need to nurture Yorkshire’s artists of tomorrow.