YP Comment: Archbishop's call for Brexit unity highlights need for compromise

This is borne out by the pragmatism shown by Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, when the House of Lords debated the Queen’s Speech and how Theresa May’s minority government intends to pave the way for Britain’s exit from the EU. He’s a realist. Because the country had voted to leave the EU on June 23 last year, he endorsed the triggering of Article 50 at the end of March. And, because Mrs May lost her Parliamentary majority in this month’s election, he says ministers will have to work with others if Brexit legislation is to be passed.

The Archbishop is correct. The Tories and Labour, who won more than 80 per cent of the votes between them, both promised to implement Brexit and the amount of common ground between the rival parties was considerable when MPs debated the issue earlier this week. If it wasn’t for party politics, at least 400 MPs could probably reach an agreed position – the problem is the most ardent Europhiles and Brexiteers who appear unwilling to compromise.

All the more reason, therefore, for some form of cross-party commission – first proposed by The Yorkshire Post and now backed by senior figures – to support the Government’s negotiations with the EU and ensure continuity if, for example, Mrs May falls. As Dr Sentamu implies, there’s a greater likelihood of the Government succeeding, and therefore surviving, if its attitude is far more “open minded” than at present. Given this, the Archbishop’s speech – reproduced on the opposite page – is required reading for every individual, politician or business leader who believes that imprecise terms like ‘soft Brexit’ and ‘hard Brexit’ detract from securing the best Brexit for both Yorkshire and Britain. That’s the priority.

Country’s cyber crime woes

The figures are startling; there have been an estimated two million incidents of online fraud in the last year alone, which has resulted in £10bn being stolen from individuals and around £144bn from businesses. Yet, despite this, the National Audit Office says police forces and the Home Office are still not taking effective action.

The NAO says the issue is not yet a priority for many police forces, while the Home Office needs to accept it has a greater responsibility to co-ordinate the national response.

Cyber fraud is a rapidly-evolving form of criminal activity, with the job of the police made all the more difficult by the fact that the perpetrators are often located in countries outside the jurisdiction of British officers. But it is clear that more can and should be done, with innovative solutions needed to tackle a hugely-complex problem.

As the NAO points out, it is heartening to hear of proposals being considered by the banking industry to make the security codes on the back of debit and credit cards change every hour.

Making the most of technological advances can only be welcomed in this IT arms race. However, the caveat about this proposal is such a plan would require all card providers to participate in such a scheme for it to work effectively. It highlights the need for Government, law enforcement and industry to work together to better protect consumers and businesses from criminals.

Fight against obesity

There is a real appetite to combat obesity – the growing number of overweight people of all ages is weighing heavily on the National Health Service’s creaking finances and the banning of junk food advertising across all children’s media, including online and social, recognises the scale of this challenge.

If more youngsters have balanced diets, the argument goes, the greater the likelihood that they will be able to lead healthy and fulfilling lives and, therefore, become less of a burden to the NHS. Yet, while the logic can’t be faulted, who is going to educate the parents? They continue to feed children junk food in dangerous quantities because either they don’t know better – or they don’t know how to cook nutritious meals on a tight budget.

Like the need, and expectation, that pre-school children will learn some very basic skills before they begin full-time lessons, this is another area of life where a good education begins at home.