YP Letters: Prepare to be dominated by US post-Brexit

Like many of us, John Cole rejects the Brexiteers’ grandiloquent use of language when they proclaim, in one way or another, that “the nation has spoken” (The Yorkshire Post, March 1).

Regrettably, 20 per cent of those eligible did not vote and will not have the usual second chance in five years’ time. Given their age profile, they, and many others, will bear the brunt of Brexit. There is every likelihood that this will involve non-elected domination by America and with it, the ceding of the sovereignty which Brexiteers claim to have won back from Brussels.

All this accompanied by memories of “stop moaning; granddad knows best; bloody foreigners” – sad to say the least.

From: Janet Berry, Hambleton, Selby.

HOW disgusting that unelected peers in the Lords are preparing to scupper Theresa May’s plan to trigger plans to leave the EU.

It is time that the House of Lords was drastically reduced. Only last week we were told of one member who left their taxi running, claimed his £300 daily allowance and promptly left.

These Liberal Democrats (not very aptly named) have also demanded the right of 3.3 million EU citizens to stay here, thus leaving Theresa May with no bargaining rights for British people living abroad. Do they really think Europe will be so generous? I don’t think so.

They cannot accept that the majority of England want to leave the EU. It does not help that the string of has-beens – Tony Blair, John Major, Michael Heseltine and Neil Kinnock – are desperately campaigning to stay in. Can’t they get it? We are supposed to be democratic and we have voted out.

They are making a laughing stock of Britain. For goodness sake, let us get on with what the country has voted for.

From: Coun Paul Andrews (Ind), Great Habton, York.

I FIND Bill Carmichael’s article (The Yorkshire Post, March 3) distasteful and vindictive. He wants to abolish the House of Lords just because he happens to disagree with an amendment which they made to legislation he approves.

He criticises many of the unelected peers for contributing nothing whilst taking their full allowances. So what is the difference between them and the party hacks in the Commons who – to quote Pinnafore – “always vote at their party’s call and never think of thinking for themselves at all?” Peers may be unelected, and for that reason they can vote for what they believe is right.

He thinks it wrong that 26 Anglican bishops have seats in the Lords because of their jobs. Fortunately their jobs are distributed evenly throughout England and they are therefore able to bring into the debate a regional dimension – particularly when the second most senior bishop comes from York. Contrast the Commons which is dominated by an authoritarian Westminster bubble that understands only London.

Mr Carmichael should be careful what he wishes for. Any reform of the Lords needs to be carefully thought through – and not come from a knee-jerk reaction against their views on Brexit.

Judge right to warn women

From: Karl Sheridan, Selby Road, Holme on Spalding Moor.

WHAT is it with social media when someone brave enough to voice their personal opinion is taken to task for doing so?

Judge Lindsey Kushner was quite right to state that women need to take care when out of an evening to ensure they stay safe regardless of the amount of liquor they drink.

However, it appears that sexual violence groups are taking her to task for saying so: by citing that the man is always to blame in any rape case that is reported.

What the critics fail to appreciate is that girls or women who drink almost to the point of being incapable are being utterly stupid and, as the judge quite correctly stated, leaving themselves open to abuse. What is wrong in someone pointing that out?

If a couple of hikers decided to climb the Matterhorn wearing trainers and summer clothing, resulting in the mountain rescue having to be called, most people would no doubt consider and voice that they were utterly stupid having acted irresponsibly

So what is the difference between the idiotic hikers and women drinking to the point they have no idea of what is happening either around them or to them?

Just the ticket for departures

From: Andrew Whitworth, St George’s Road, Harrogate.

HAVING read recent arguments in The Yorkshire Post about improving access to Leeds Bradford Airport, to my mind it’s a no-brainer that a Parkway station on the Harrogate rail line is the best choice. It’s quick, cheap, less disruptive and low risk.

For airport users, it will be as convenient as using a long-stay car park as the same minibus service will provide access. It can also help reduce congestion in north-west Leeds with park and ride.

In contrast, the tram-train alternative will take decades to build, cost about 10 times as much, and disrupt Leeds city centre with the proposed on-street running. There are no ready answers if Greg Mulholland’s Parkway station questions were directed instead to his own tram-train favourite. And as the expensive tram-train would fail to benefit the neediest parts of the city, it is surely likely to be ultimately rejected, as was the ill-fated trolleybus scheme.

Ill judged

From: Paul Morley, Long Preston, Skipton.

THE only reason farmer Kenneth Hugill should ever have been in court is as a prosecution witness at the trial of Richard Stables and Adrian Barron for attempted theft (The Yorkshire Post, March 11).