YP Comment: Do EU sums add up over Brexit? Show us the maths, Mr Juncker

Either way, the selective dissemination of such sums – together with the leaking of private talks between Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and Theresa May – is simply playing into the Prime Minister’s hands ahead of the general election.

Far from undermining the Tory leader, such a hostile approach merely vindicates Mrs May’s decision to secure a personal mandate, and strengthen her negotiating position, as she made clear in an uncompromising speech on the steps of 10 Downing Street following an audience with the Queen to formalise Parliament’s dissolution ahead of polling day on June 8.

Given the antipathy that already exists towards the European Union, and how its annual accounts have not been completely ratified each year for the past two decades, it is in its own best interests to provide a detailed breakdown of its calculations.

If it declines to do so, the decision by Mr Juncker’s team to brief against the Prime Minister will look even more dishonourable – even vindictive – when it is in the interests of both the next Government, and the EU, to conduct talks in a respectful manner.

After all, it is the EU’s lack of accountability and transparency which was a significant factor behind Britain’s decision last June to leave the EU and, in doing so, reassert the sovereignty of Parliament.

Furthermore, Mrs May’s personal popularity remains at an all-time high, hence why she is appealing to the country to put their personal trust in her leadership rather than the wider Conservative Party. People from all walks of life admire her workmanlike approach.

Yet, while the Tory leader’s strategy will deliver a significantly increased Commons majority, this Brexit election is also about economic competence – this country is still spending beyond its means – and the main protagonists should be finessing their proposals rather than rubbishing their opponents. Recent elections have shown that voters are capable of coming to reasoned decisions for themselves.

Cut down to size: Sheffield’s tree-felling scandal

THE fact that South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield Council are blaming each other for the towing away of residents’ cars prior to the controversial pre-dawn felling of trees shows the extent to which this whole saga has been mismanaged.

The context is this. Given how Sheffield promotes itself as Britain’s ‘outdoor city’ and the extent to which local residents do, in fact, value the environment, this issue always had the potential to polarise public opinion.

Yet, while even opponents of this scheme have accepted that there is a legitimate case for the felling of those dead and diseased trees which pose a genuine hazard to public health and safety if they are allowed to become unstable, the secrecy surrounding the planned work – more than 6,000 street trees are being replaced across Sheffield with smaller specimens – does seem extreme.

This is one issue where the council should have been working in collaboration with local residents. Instead the way the whole issue has been mishandled on leafy Rustlings Road, the location at the centre of this latest war of words, has been allowed to become a PR disaster which is detracting time – and money – away from the more substantive issues facing Sheffield. Surely it would be far prudent if the powers-that-be were focusing on economic growth, and new job opportunities, rather than this very local difficulty?

The big picture

THE most high-profile award in British arts, the Turner Prize has certainly become more irreverent and eccentric with the passage of time, a trend that is set to continue this year after the identities of the four shortlisted nominees were revealed.

However it’s important not to lose sight of the
bigger picture. It is a major coup for Hull, this year’s City of Culture, that such thought-provoking works – warts and all – will be showcased at the recently refurbished Ferens Art Gallery before the winner is announced.

With Hull’s celebrations continuing to exceed all expectations, the hosting of such illustrious events not only demonstrate the vibrancy of the regional arts outside of London but the importance of culture to the wider economy.