LETTERS

Paradise for the few

THE leaked Paradise Papers only confirm what most of us think about the super-rich.

There is always the suspicion that people with the means to avoid paying tax will grab any opportunity to do so and, naturally, there are organisations that make it possible.

The rest of us ‘little people’ are taxed to the hilt — and woe betide any individual who makes a mistake on a tax return. The taxman will relentlessly pursue any ordinary person who has underpaid tax.

Meanwhile, the super-rich just carry on hoarding their cash like Donald Duck’s rich uncle Scrooge McDuck! What makes it worse is that some of these people lecture us about how society should be run.

Of course, the super-rich will say tax avoidance is not tax evasion. This is true, but perhaps they need to adjust their moral compass and embrace fairness rather than greed.

D. TOWNSHEND, Chelmsford, Essex. THOSE of us trapped by employment or a low pension have always had to pay taxes, and we get no return on our savings because of poor interest rates. No wonder the rich will continue to get richer.

BOB REEVES, Billericay, Essex. I HAVE always had great respect for the Queen and her devotion to duty, but if our head of state uses tax havens, what hope is there that the super-rich will pay their fair share?

The UK’s tax havens should be closed and the tax recouped used for our underfunded NHS, schools and housing.

VALERIE CREWS, Beckenham, Kent. ROYAL officials insist they were ‘not aware of any tax advantages’ in the Queen’s investments in an offshore haven. Do they think we are all stupid? It’s just plain old greed. Hasn’t she got enough money?

JAMES LEE, London WC2.

Sex pest fiasco

I CAN imagine the sniggers of the hot-blooded Europeans at the petty historical accusations being regarded as sexual assault and taken seriously enough to destroy the reputations and careers of politicians. It makes a mockery of serious sexual crimes where victims can be scarred for life.

Trial by media has taken over from the courts. Reputations and careers are being destroyed by over-sensitive women, those jumping on the bandwagon for their moment in the spotlight or the spiteful seeking revenge for past slights.

It seems that anyone can be accused of inappropriate behaviour from decades ago without evidence.

It’s time to stop this runaway train. It should be illegal to name anyone accused of sexual misconduct until they are found guilty in a court of law.

CORA RITCHIE, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone. IN THE real world of work, if you were accused of sexual harassment, you’d be suspended immediately and there would be an investigation. It’s suggested there should be controls over excessive drinking in the bars of Westminster, which beggars belief. What a hard life MPs have.

R. KIMBLE, Leeds. PERHAPS the Commons Speaker should refrain from using the term ‘ Honourable gentleman’ for the time being.

J. WALMSLEY, Bury, Gtr Manchester. MPs can’t be trusted with our money, our country and now even each other! If they need a code of conduct on how to behave, why are they running the country?

PHIL GRANGER, West Malling, Kent.

Texan tragedy

THE mass murders in Texas are one more symptom of what is wrong with the U.S. Violence begets violence. But, as usual, the excuse is that ‘guns don’t kill people, people kill people’.

Nothing will change when it comes to violence, racism and bigotry in the U.S. It isn’t helped by having a President like Donald Trump, whose comments after any disaster seem to be written by a ten-year-old.

Trump has his finger on the nuclear button that could start World War III, yet he lectures North Korea on its behaviour. God help us all.

RONALD BALL, Farnborough, Hants.

Doc’s dilemma

ARE we turning into a nation of wimps? I couldn’t believe that last week’s episode of that gentle, family TV show Doc Martin started with a warning that it contained a surgical procedure.

It’s a programme about a doctor, isn’t it? And what was the distressing scene we had to be warned about? A patient having a cyst drained.

What with students being given warnings about Shakespeare plays and a minister losing his job for putting his hand on a woman’s knee years ago, we’re going to the dogs.

When I was young, I was involved in a hand on knee incident, but the lady concerned quickly backed off when she felt how knobbly it was.

ROGER VINCE, Upper Brynamman, Carmarthenshire.

Don’t harass herds

THERE is a public footpath across our farm and we have put signs up several times warning of livestock. But every time they have been ripped down and dogs let off leads end up chasing the animals.

So, though I am sorry for walker Sharn Thomas, who was injured in a stampede of cows (Letters), I have to speak up for farmers.

If cows have calves with them, they are protective and will investigate a walker with or without a dog.

The field is their home and you are the stranger, so if you can see cows and calves in a field, it makes sense to find an alternative route.

Would we prefer cows to be left in barns with concrete paths and fences across the fields? Everyone has a

right to enjoy the countryside, but please use common sense. There are thousands of miles of beautiful walks and forests with not a cow in sight. Mrs JOANNE HORN,

Warnford, Hants. I WAS in a frightening situation last week when walking along a public right of way across a field.

A herd of cows started bellowing and moving quickly towards me. I was lucky to escape — I had to crawl through a hedge to get away.

MARY DAVIES, Bristol.

Remembrance rush

PETER OBORNE was selfrighteous about the number of pedestrians he recently passed in the street who were not wearing poppies (Mail).

He wouldn’t have seen me wearing one last week, either. I choose not to buy one until after November 5, as I find it uncomfortable that barely a week before mourning the fallen, people celebrate Bonfire Night and make light of religious oppression, betrayal, torture and death.

Remembrance Day isn’t until November 11, so why the rush for poppies in October? EMILIE LAMPLOUGH,

Trowbridge, Wilts.

Untroubled waters

JUST when you thought the world had gone to hell in a handcart, here come Timothy West and Prunella Scales pootling along the waterways in their latest TV series.

What a reminder of courtesy and old-world charm. When Pru lit a candle in church in memory of her brother, I swear no actor would be able to replicate the look of love Tim gave her. SUSAN BARKER, Gainsborough, Lincs.

Crisis in care

THE real political scandal is the 1.2 million older and vulnerable people being left without the care they need. Despite social care being a hot topic at the General Election, it has been ignored ever since, with a vague promise of a Green Paper and hints the unpopular dementia tax will be introduced.

Care homes are closing and homecare providers are handing back contracts because there isn’t enough money to keep on delivering care. Will the Budget tackle this crisis once and for all?

MIKE PADGHAM, Scarborough, N. Yorks.