Letters, November 9: Free trade is an ideal that can never exist

From: Roger Backhouse, Upper Poppleton, York

The Taxpayers’ Alliance shows unusual naivety arguing for the British Government to defend “free trade” (The Yorkshire Post, November 4).

It’s a lovely idea and, in theory, I’d support it.

But in practice free trade never exists and never can.

What free marketeers rarely admit is that successful Asian economies grew because they used state support and protectionism to defend their new and developing industries.

South Korea’s massive shipbuilding growth began with substantial state support. Britain’s faded away.

Japan and China remain notably protectionist about ownership of industries and banks.

Those countries have kept ownership of key businesses in their own counties.

Contrast that with Britain where successive governments rolled over to let other countries buy in or take over.

Both used their muscle to supply cheap goods to other countries, destroying industries both in the USA and Britain. In China’s case it also used an artificially low exchange rate.

Once home industry is destroyed new producers can dictate terms so not much of a free market there.

Interesting that when it comes to industrial jobs it’s argued that subsidies are wrong, yet when it comes to agriculture we have many.

Double standards it seems, so will we see the Taxpayers’ Alliance campaigning for abolition of farm support?

Let’s rethink remembrance

From: Geoffrey North, Silverdale Avenue, Guiseley

I HAVE read with interest two recent articles, one concerning bonfire night by Leo Winkley, headteacher of St Peter’s School, and the other by Rob Parsons about a research project on remembrance.

The Yorkshire Post published a letter of mine last November which combined both these topics.

My letter acknowledged the debt we owe to so many and went on to say: “Yet, as those who witnessed these terrible wars pass away, memories will inevitable fade.

“Perhaps we should be thinking about what should replace Remembrance Day in our national calendar.

“I feel that what we need is a national celebration day which both recognises and appreciates all that we value in this great land of ours and the part played by so many in helping to create, develop and preserve it.

“It would still embrace the part played by all who have died or been injured in the two world wars, but why not previous conflicts, such as the battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo (and why not the Spanish Armada) and subsequent conflicts such as the Falklands, Korea and Afghanistan?

“That day of celebration could become a national holiday sometime at the end of October/beginning of November coinciding with schools’ half term.

“It would also constitute an invaluable way of teaching our history. At the same time let us abandon the celebration of the terrorists Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators once and for all.”

My views have not changed and I sense that others are beginning to share them.

Think small to rebuild UK

Chris Broome, Hackfield Road, Sheffield.

George Osborne has admitted that successive governments have failed to modernise Britain’s infrastructure (The Yorkshire Post, October 31).

The trouble is he wants huge investments in grandiose projects that are completely incompatible with a genuinely prosperous future.

He now increasingly dictates Government policy, but is in denial about the pace at which we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Building HS2 and all the proposed new major roads cannot be reconciled with an adequate plan to decarbonise the economy. In place of Osborne’s grand vision we need to “localise” our economies – so more people live close to where they work – and invest in low-carbon infrastructure.

The benefits are ones Osborne is blind to – stronger local communities, better air quality and health, less impacts on our countryside and above all, reduced climate change.

George Osborne is unfortunately a visionary with his head in the sand.

Leave brave crew alone

From: Colin Muncie, Harlech Grove, Sheffield.

Hot on the heels of your excellent reporting of the catastrophic demise of the Yorkshire steel industry we are now faced with a CAA investigation of an “illegal roll” by the now-retired Vulcan bomber.

Here the brave crew of an iconic UK aeroplane are being investigated by a group of bureaucratic pen-pushers with little better to do.

Do they imagine that such a skilled aircrew would have undertaken a manoeuvre if they felt this would put members of the public at risk? Is there no concept of the affection that the public have for this aircraft? And who cares anyway?

It is becoming more and more difficult to identify what this country’s heritage really is. The CAA are certainly not helping.

Can we expect the last flying Lancaster to be grounded any time soon?