Why being in the EU just doesn’t add up

JAMES Reed’s statement (The Yorkshire Post, October 19) that “Yorkshire is a significant recipient of money from Brussels” is misleading, to say the least. Brussels collects taxpayers’ money including over £20bn per year from the UK, the second biggest net contribution to the EU. A percentage of this is given back to be spent in accord with EU orders. However, the Europhile media give maximum publicity to these rebates, as if it was EU generosity.

The UK should be spending its own money and ditching the unelected, profligate hierarchy in Brussels where accounts are never audited and incentives and pressures plumb the depths. The determination to create a superstate with the necessary, all-powerful EU police and pan-military control, is a step too far for the UK.

From: Amjad Bashir, Conservative MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber.

THANK you for publishing James Reed’s thoughtful and well-informed article about Britain’s reform negotiations in the EU and the prospect of a Brexit.

I agreed with much that he said, but I thought he overlooked one important factor. He fell into the common mistake of thinking that our negotiators are going round Brussels pleading for concessions to be made as a special favour to the UK.

In fact the changes we are pressing for would benefit the whole of the EU, not just ourselves, and that is how they are being presented. Without radical reform not only will the UK surely leave, but the EU will surely fail.

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

I TOTALLY agree with Jonathan Lindsell (The Yorkshire Post, October 21) about the consequences of leaving the EU. Surely it must be easier to agree a trade deal if only one, rather than a multiple of conflicting interest parties, is at the negotiating table?

I think that we would do much better trade without the encumbrance of the other members of the European Union. We would also be able more to control our borders and keep our sovereign state safe.

Will Church offer a home?

From: Barry Foster, High Stakesby, Whitby.

I READ with interest the article by the Bishop of Leeds regarding the immigrant crisis, and asking us all to take people in (The Yorkshire Post, Octover 22). Presumably, with all its palaces, the CoE will be able to house hundreds

After all, charity begins at home, so they say.

Over the past months they have increased the number of Bishops in the Yorkshire area where almost every town now has a Bishop.

Most of us who help to keep the churches going financially would wonder if we really can afford such luxury. Perhaps money saved here could be sent to assist those in Syria.

Forced into marriage

From: Bob Watson, Baildon.

THERE is to be a Government crackdown on forced marriage (The Yorkshire Post, October 23), something that is long overdue. However, one has to wonder just how many arranged marriages have an element of force in them as well. Surely, in this day and age, arranged marriages should have no place in 21st century society? It should be considered just as unacceptable to go abroad for an arranged marriage as it is for a forced marriage.

Was Halifax bomb British?

From: Mr C Wallis, Castleford.

I WAS interested in the recent letter “The only bomb to drop on Halifax”. I have a magazine, Calderdale 1930-45, In it are eight or nine letters from people who saw the plane drop the bomb.

Three of the people thought it was a British plane that dropped it. They based their theory on the plane having navigation lights flashing red and green and saying no German plane would be showing lights. All agreed the bomb dropped on Hanson Lane.

No-fly zone

From: N Taylor, Northallerton.

I’M afraid Jo Cambage (The Yorkshire Post, October 17) could not have seen Vulcan 770 at Yeadon in May 1953 as it had been grounded in January of that year and did not fly again until July.

The Yorkshire Aeroplane Club did hold an International Rally each year from 1949 until the last, the Coronation Air Pageant, in 1953.