Don’t let safety be compromised by Brexiteer dogma over EU air travel

From: James Bovington, Church Grove, Horsforth, Leeds.
Whatr will be the impact of Brexit on air traffic control protocols?Whatr will be the impact of Brexit on air traffic control protocols?
Whatr will be the impact of Brexit on air traffic control protocols?
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THE announcement by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps that the UK will end its membership of EASA (the European aviation safety regulator) after the Brexit transition period is further proof that the Tory government is prepared to put inward-looking xenophobic ideology ahead of the safety of travellers.

This departure from an international organisation whose expertise – often led by British experts – has greatly improved passenger safety underlines the Government’s ideological determination to distance this country from highly successful European arrangements which are cost efficient and keep us safe.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
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Hence at the end of the year the UK will be leaving EURATOM which has the potential to complicate the treatment of cancer. At the very least, it won’t improve radiotherapy treatment options. While the UK probably does have the expertise to set up its own air safety regulator, why go to this expense and run the risk of miscommunication as two separate organisations the European and the British duplicate their efforts?

Trade body ADS – which represents 1,00 UK businesses in aerospace, defence and security – estimates a new UK air organisation to cost £40m a year compared to an EASA contribution of £4m.

Even more chilling is the Tory refusal to guarantee participation in a future 
Erasmus student exchange scheme, given that their real heartfelt opinion is that the innate superiority as holders of the new blue passport means that young British people couldn’t possibly learn anything worthwhile from foreigners.

An exaggeration? We’ll see. But the rush casually and callously to end freedom of movement means that the Tories don’t really want us to enjoy cultural and social links with our nearest neighbours.

Do the UK and EU need to co-operate over air safety after the Brexit transition period ends?Do the UK and EU need to co-operate over air safety after the Brexit transition period ends?
Do the UK and EU need to co-operate over air safety after the Brexit transition period ends?
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The Tories seem to believe that being members of organisations like EASA or EURATOM is incompatible with the UK having genuine economic and political independence. Why does this same warped logic not apply to membership of NATO or even the United Nations? Why accept International Maritime Organisation rules on British cruise ships? Surely that diminishes our independence?

The Government’s ideological determination to abandon long established and well working international agreements is hardly less nonsensical. Companies like EasyJet and Ryanair only exist because of the EU championing competition.

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