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Undermining stance

ON the day the EU referendum was announced I remember watching TV showing Nigel Farage arguing that we should spend the £350 million a week we send to the EU on other things. The presenter pointed out that the figure was wrong as not only did it not take into account the money we get back in development funds and agricultural subsidies, but also our rebate which is never actually sent to the EU in first place.

Two months later the quitters are still making that same false claim about the cost of the EU, indeed they have a battle bus with the figure emblazoned on the side travelling around the country despite the fact that the head of the ONS has written to them telling them the figure is misleading, along with the NHS logo, which they been specifically asked not to use by the NHS.

This has prompted me to look into some of the other claims made by the quitters. Many of those are also wrong. They claim the EU threatens the NHS because of TTIP when TTIP specifically protects public services including health services. They claim our borders are open when, as we are not part of Schengen, they are closed. They claim we are being overwhelmed by EU immigration when their own figures show total immigration from the EU is only 1.5% (others have published much lower figures). There are many, many other examples of misleading and inaccurate statements from the quitters.

What is more, with less than a month to go the quitters have so far totally failed to come up with a plan for what they want to see happen should we quit the EU.

I suspect this is because they are stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea. At one end of the spectrum of options available is the Norway option which allows continued full access to EU markets but that comes with continuing to pay pretty much the same as we do now, accepting EU rules as we do now and also open movement as now, thereby undermining three of their key arguments for quitting.

At the other end of the spectrum is the go it alone WTO option which would mean the EU common external tariff of up to 12.5% would be applied to all our exports to the EU making many uncompetitive even if they were allowed in. That option would therefore put at risk every single one of the 3.5 million British jobs involved with producing the goods and services that we export to the EU.

Given these circumstances how can we, the British people, make an informed decision regarding whether or not we would be better off quitting the EU?

ADAM POOLE

Savill Crescent

Wroughton

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Debate stays unclear

LIES, lies and statistics – that’s the old adage.

Well, in the last couple of weeks I think we have had it all. First we had David Cameron, saying that if we vote to leave we will have World War III upon us.

But, hang on a moment, wasn’t he the one who went round with the begging bowl trying to get the Germans to agree to allow us to change our benefit system and wasn’t he also the one who said if they don’t agree, he would recommend us to leave? Perhaps he should have threatened them with a nuclear attack he might have got what he wanted.

Then we had them saying house prices will fall. But hang on a moment, didn’t I see on the TV that house prices have risen by 10 per cent and everyone saying that it was impossible for first time buyers to get on the property ladder. Therefore, if we leave the EU house prices will fall giving young people the chance to buy a house, problem solved.

Next, we had them saying the pound will fall in value. But hang on a sec, a couple of years ago I went to Germany for the New Year and the pound was 1.09 to the Euro; now it’s something like 1.26 so if it falls it will only be like it was a couple of years ago.

They also state that if it falls everything will be dearer. But anyone with basic economics knows that if your currency is strong the things we buy are cheaper but the goods we sell are dearer and all exporters would prefer a weaker pound to help exports and create jobs.

I suppose the next thing they’ll tell us is that the sky going to fall on us.

ALLAN WOODHAM

Nythe

Swindon

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Freedom of association

THE many countries who were part of the British Empire who demanded independence did not experience instant economic benefit.

Some might still not but they all have the freedom of a friendly association with The Commonwealth.

Good for the gander?

BRIAN BRADBURY-PRATT

Parsonage Court

Highworth

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Festival congratulations

QUIDNUNCS, literati, raconteurs, lend me your ears. Rejoice after the 23rd consecutive stunning Swindon Festival of Literature (The Adver, “Festival was the write stuff”, pp 14-15, May 16). A very special 25th anniversary awaits us in 2018. A silver occasion for a golden event.

Being Welsh and often commenting on the marvels of Wales I am often times asked to justify why I don’t live there permanently. Occasionally I’m told to (expletive deleted) off home. Why, when England is as beautiful and hospitable as Wales? Why, when Swindon has a first class Festival of Literature?

Gary Loyden (letter, May 19) rightly praises maestro Matt Holland and his very capable squad of helpers and managers. In our way Swindon is the equal of festivals such as Cheltenham, Voewood (Norfolk) and Hay-on-Wye. I note that Swindon alone lasts two whole weeks. It is implied that all 53 sessions were well supported. Where was Mr Bali Rai? Supposedly speaking about the role of libraries in a writer’s life. The irony was the signage at the Central Library saying Bali was cancelled.

Congratulations to Chris Eddy, winner of Seventh Thinkslam. I do believe he and John Little are neck and neck with three titles apiece. People set themselves up at great risk to their egos and some end up as the Grand Panjandrum. Praise be that literature is a more open playing field than the golf course. Muirfield has lost the right to hold The Open because it discriminates against women. As for the woodbine cigarettes (letters, passim) it’s a case of hijacking a beautiful plant with an ugly product. Nightshade cigarettes anyone?

A REEVE

Okus Road

Old Town