YP Comment: Vote to leave the EU was a clear decision

THE LETTER by John Cole (The Yorkshire Post, March 1) is full of inaccuracies.

A four per cent margin should be a clear enough victory margin for anyone, a total of 17.42 million people can’t be wrong.

His assertion about 16 and 17-year-olds not voting is wrong – 18 is the age for voting in this country at general elections. Why should that be changed because the result did not go the way Mr Cole wanted?

Why should EU nationals be given a vote? This is not their country.

Finally his claim that the referendum was advisory is not true and is just wishful thinking on his part. Had he read David Cameron’s propaganda booklet, he would have seen that this is not the case.

Is Mr Cole so ill-informed or is he, as it appears, so EU-fanatical that he is just altering the facts to suit his lost cause?

From: Mr T Wright, Bempton Lane, Flamborough, Bridlington.

I VOTED for Brexit. Your correspondent John Cole obviously did not.

I did not hear one politician say during the campaign that the referendum result would be for advisory purposes only.

The unelected bureaucrats of the EU are upset because we are net contributors to the EU budget and they are concerned as to where the shortfall will come from to continue a lavish life at our expense.

Why not have a referendum in the remaining 27 countries? It may turn out to be an eye-opener.

The original concept of a trading market place was fine, but now it is out of hand.

From: John Craven, Green Road, Baildon.

I NOW know the reason the Lib Dems faded from the political scene, they don’t listen.

It matters not whether there was only a majority of one in favour of leaving the EU or a million, a majority is a majority.

From: Cecil Hallas, Cubley Rise Road, Penistone, Sheffield.

WHAT a responsibility for the Lords? After all, the people have spoken, haven’t they?

So far it appears that a goodly number of them accept the situation (John Sentamu, The Yorkshire Post, March 3), but there’s clearly an undercurrent of hostility stemming from the ones who have a habitual disregard for those of the common flock.

These are the prophets of truth, the Messiahs of wisdom whose mystical powers transcend such a triviality as democracy.

As a schoolboy enduring geography, I watched as the world map was rolled down to reveal a big swathe of red across the chart, this was the British Empire. Somehow there was this feeling that however, high or low, we’d never be under anyone’s boot. Today we no longer have an empire but old traditions die hard. And yet it wasn’t economics that took us to war in 1914 and in 1939.

The British people knew only too well the price which had to be paid for freedom. Again, who can know what the consequences might be? There will certainly be a price to pay but at least, once again, we shall be free.

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

NONE of these doom-and-gloomers ever mention the wonderful green shoots that are already emerging, especially in Yorkshire. Why should their pessimistic utterances be headline news in the media rather than the good news emerging for our country after the Brexit result?

They should accept the result. Their team lost.

Searching for NHS answers

From: Neil Richardson, Kirkheaton, Huddersfield.

THE Public Accounts Committee call for real solutions (Find the real cure, The Yorkshire Post, February 27) and solutions to resolve multiple problems in the NHS might instead consider a more modest stance of improved relationships.

With any general practice or hospital team having a history which is complex, changeful and social, the idea of solving NHS problems seems over-ambitious.

The PAC should mull over what counts as ‘a problem’: an increase in department responsibilities? Information technology? A reluctance among citizens to contribute more towards health care? The tobacco industry? UK population trends? Insufficient hours in a day?

Now, some group of clinicians or managers might reply that their ongoing local issues are only distantly related to such suggestions.

But how should the group’s particular, close-to-home concerns – which have potential for improvement – be expressed in a way that avoids cliché and permits serious discussion?

Converted to rugby league

From: John Bann, Pelham Close, Newark, Nottingham.

THE other Friday a member of our local church, who has never been to a rugby league match, invited me to go with him to watch Leeds v Salford. He knew that I was a lifelong Warrington Wolves fan and would enjoy going to a game.

We travelled up to Doncaster by car and then caught the train to Leeds and Burley Park.

At a local pub we met up with his friend from Dalton-in-Furness, a keen Rhinos fan 
and went to watch what was really a very good game – an interesting experience for me 
as a neutral.

What amazed my friend (who originates from Suffolk) is that people talk to each other – North-South!

However this welcome did not only apply to the match itself. On the return train journey, we had a very interesting conversation with some people from Bradford.

I also spoke to a very pleasant young woman, telling her about my mother (aged 90) and the sad loss of my dear wife.

My friend is now converted to rugby league and another trip will be arranged and our assistant pastor wants to come (a rugby union man from Cardiff).

So thanks everyone for a good night out and watch out for Castleford Tigers!