Euro vision of missing out

NOW that the US and the EU have decided to start negotiations for a comprehensive trade and investment agreement, it is an even worse time for Cameron and Ukip to want us to have no part in the European Union.

When the negotiations are completed, this EU-US agreement will be the biggest bilateral trade deal ever negotiated.

We delude ourselves if we think the UK could be outside of the agreement and still negotiate favourable terms.

Our so-called “Special Relationship” with our cousins across the Atlantic doesn’t have much relevance when it comes to their trading with the biggest common market in the world.

Should we ever get that referendum, we must for our own prosperity vote to stay in the EU.

Common sense after a fashion

From: Roger Whitaker, Dale View, Hardwick Road, Pontefract.

THERE were two references (Yorkshire Post, February 12) to a shortage of common sense, one in a letter from Ken Hartford, who calls it a “mysterious” quality, and one in sub-heading of your Editorial on education headed “Common sense still at a premium”.

Perhaps the reason was found by Ralph Waldo Emerson when he wrote “common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes”.

Right decision

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.

THE Pope has done the right thing to stand down while he is still capable of doing his job. Abdication should not be a dirty word, and those in of authority should realise that sometimes it pays to hand over to a successor for whatever reasons.