YP Letters: Britain must not give way to EU bullies

As expected, the EU is using the same bullying tactics on the UK as they used on Greece.

These methods merely confirm what we all know – the EU is a seedy protection racket demanding money from us without any legal, financial or moral justification.

Then, when the UK Government hesitates to pay, the EU threatens to suspend talks.

In this the EU relies on weak-willed Remainers here to pressurise our government into appeasement.

Our timid, gullible, establishment doesn’t understand that EU politicians see offers of compromise as a sign of weakness.

So, against all sense and realism, Remainers demand that we must bow our heads to the EU, plead for a few paltry transitional arrangements, give up our independence to remain in the single market, and pay the EU lots of gold.

But such abasement never makes the bully go away and doesn’t allow us to leave the EU either.

From: Graham Branston, Emmott Drive, Rawdon.

Much as I admired Boris Johnson’s sentiment when in the Commons he said the EU could ‘whistle’ over any so-called divorce settlement, the terms of the divorce may not be so simple.

If a sum is finally agreed, the UK should be clear on the terms of the payment. I suggest two conditions; first the sum is fixed, no interest charge; this would be essential because secondly the sum would be repaid annually over, say, 25 years, by which time the undemocratic, wasteful carbuncle that is the EU would hopefully be extinct.

If pigs could fly, bacon would go up!

From: David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York.

Ever since the result of the UK Referendum on the EU there has been a load of comment, views, analysis, tales of doom and gloom, stories of many future opportunities, and much more from politicians, newspapers, radio, TV, social media communications, trade unions, the Church, businessmen and women, celebrities, sports people and “Uncle Tom Cobley” and the “experts”!

No facts have emerged from either side, as no one knows what will happen. We have never been in a position like this, and nor has anyone else. We are all in uncharted waters – every remark is pure speculation. It is all very very complicated.

I firmly believe that at the end of all the negotiations and discussion, it will be tough and hard going for the UK for about three to five years, but eventually Britain will emerge as a great sovereign nation once more.

That is my speculation, but I do not know any more than all the “armchair” experts.

From: B C Dawson, Thirsk Road, Easingwold.

The attitude adopted by EU politicians, some negotiating Brexit, tells us who our true friends are.

Having been tricked into that bureaucratic organisation by lies and stealth, we became the second biggest net contributor to Brussels, paying for mistakes such as the introduction of a common currency by the Superstate fanatics, who ignored the effects upon the countries of Southern Europe.

Our farming relatives in New Zealand were near to bankruptcy because of EU funding laws and two relatives in the UK have their small businesses grossly inhibited by the mass of regulations which it takes teams of lawyers, in large business organisations, to sort out.

Brexit and a more realistic exchange rate has given them a great boost.

Quizzical over so many ‘firsts’

From: Brian H Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

I FELT some resentment at the news that up to a third of degrees awarded at some universities were first-class honours (The Yorkshire Post, July 20).

I am proud of my “Desmond” (a 2.2) which was considered a good degree at the time. In my subject in my year only one “first” was awarded.

Moreover, all universities had to serve their time from being colleges or university colleges to become established universities.

There are two possible explanations for the apparent generosity of some places of further education, both of which are cynical. First, and least likely, is the possibility that students may work harder to justify having paid the tuition fees; secondly, the lesser establishments – for want of a more unkind description – feel that they have to award firsts to justify their fees. This is all a result of having too many universities, too many students and too many lecturers.

Store surprise

From: John H Langley, Bridlington.

The Yorkshire Post (Picture Past, July 25), particularly caught my eye with the large picture on the back page of Thrift Stores in Kirkstall in 1962.

In the late 1950s I resided close by in Morris Lane and shopped at the store frequently. I remember it well and I recall that the Thrift Stores head office was close by. It was possible an early self-service store shortly before that larger supermarkets arrived.

Happy memories.