Our fishing is certainly not up for negotiation
‘LET us fish in your waters or kiss goodbye to a free trade deal,’ cry the EU ‘negotiators’. All we should reply is: ‘Goodbye, we will deal with you on WTO terms.’
Michel Barnier doesn’t understand that the whole idea of Brexit is that we are not only taking back control of our laws, minds and land, but are also taking back our waters. As of December 31, they are our waters, our fish and jobs for our trawler crews.
ASHLEY SMITH, March, Cambs. THE EU is still trying to gain fishing rights in our waters in exchange for a trade deal.
When will it accept we are not going to do an all-you- can- eat deal with our fish any more than they would offer ‘Bogof’ deals on their wine and cheese?
We are semi-detached from the EU, soon to be detached, and will no longer have to accept their crazy rules. It needs to remove its fingers from the UK pie.
GRAHAM DAWSON, Liverpool. IT SEEMS it was perfectly OK for the Common Market to decimate the UK’s fishing industry when we joined what has morphed into the EU. However, it is not now acceptable to the EU for the UK to reclaim those fishing rights.
P. WILSON, Chester.
Mind the gap
IS IT time to rethink the hospital gown ( Good Health)? May I suggest other hospitals employ the method we have long used to maintain patient dignity in the X-ray department where I work at Sheppey hospital.
We simply use two gowns: the one with the gap down the back is topped with a gown with the gap at the front.
This means patients are well covered up, don’t have to struggle with difficult-to-reach ties and it allows easy access for clinical or personal care reasons.
M. DILLON, Sheerness, Kent.
TIE-UP-THE-BACK gowns are like some insurance policies. You only think you’re covered. KEITH BULLOCH, Halesowen, W. Mids.
Don’t panic
AS FEAR sweeps across the nation because of the ‘killer’ virus, it’s probably time for a little perspective and calm reflection.
The facts are that so far the mortality rate for coronavirus is around 2 per cent and for most of those infected it is similar to a mild dose of flu.
Headlines about a looming pandemic and doomsday scenario miss the one statistic that really matters. There are probably more people who have recovered from the virus than those currently ill with it. Eight of the people diagnosed with coronavirus in Britain are now well again.
Rising numbers of infected people getting well again not only provides cause for optimism, but also helps to bring the discovery of a vaccine a lot nearer.
KEVIN COLEY, Leicester.
Tax breaks for all
THE contention that higher-rate tax relief should not be abolished does not help the Conservatives.
It doesn’t make sense that investing £1,000 into a pension scheme costs a higher rate taxpayer only £600 while it costs a standard rate taxpayer £800.
If the cap on annual contribution was lifted and premiums were given relief of 30 per cent, that would indicate the Government supports all of the electorate. DON BROCKLESBY,
Dursley, Glos.
BBC can do better
THE BBC has made a huge mistake in aiming for quantity before quality. Its strength is that you can sit down and enjoy a whole programme without being interrupted by advert breaks.
Despite spiritless game shows and politically biased current affairs, there is plenty to praise, such as the first-class coverage of Wimbledon, well- chosen movies and many quality programmes.
The BBC doesn’t need a growing list of dissatisfied viewers. Breaking a promise to the elderly by reintroducing the licence fee while increasing salaries for its presenters makes the corporation appear disingenuous and disorganised.
Less is best, and a subscription service wouldn’t be necessary if the BBC concentrated on what it does best and scrapped the rubbish and bias.
If it goes commercial, it would lose variety, constancy and a place where new talent can develop.
T. G. SPRINGTHORPE, Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
Get bailing
I LIVE on a flood plain with the river Frome just 20 ft from my back door. I chose to live here 25 years ago because of the views and amazing wildlife.
I can’t get flood insurance so my fingers are often crossed.
However, if I did have the misfortune to be flooded, I would not expect the Prime Minister to pop round and help bail out.
It’s like moving next to Heathrow and expecting the Government to turn the noise down!
RON COLEMAN, Dorchester, Dorset.
Protection money
LIKE it or not, we are responsible for Harry and Meghan’s security, whether they are serving Royals or not, in the same way we pay to protect former prime ministers.
Yes, the Sussexes may be petulant, selfish and misguided to think they can just walk away from their responsibilities.
But we have all had our say on the matter and now should leave them to come to terms with their decision, to reflect and perhaps see the error of their ways.
INA CHARLTON, Ffynnongroew, Flintshire. HAVING left the Royal Family, Harry and Meghan should follow the example of the rich and famous and fund their protection from their own income.
When you leave an employer in the real world, you lose all the privileges and perks they provided, so why should they feel they are any different?
I hope that they can now disappear into the oblivion they seek as I am fed up with their selfishness and ingratitude to the Queen and this country.
MIKE HILTON, Ainsdale, Merseyside.