We’re in The Thick of It, in ancient Rome
Nine of the 10 most popular destinations from Britain’s busiest airport are short-haul flights. Existing rail services could offer workable alternatives on most of these routes, freeing up landing slots for longer-haul flights. As trains are 10 times less polluting than planes, this would also be better for the environment.
We cannot hope to meet vital climate change targets while building new runways – the two policies are wholly incompatible.
Furthermore, the economic case cited by the Airports Commission was based on implausibly optimistic assumptions. These assumptions cannot claim any credibility, especially in light of the current economic uncertainty.
It is clear it’s time for the government, whatever shape it might take, to be bold and dismiss these proposals out of hand. Keith Taylor Green Party MEP for the South East, European Parliament
Chancellor George Osborne has confirmed there would be tax increases and expenditure cuts as the result of the vote to leave the EU.
The Mayor of Calais has suggested the immigrant issue of the Jungle camp could be shifted to Dover once the present arrangements for the control of cross-border travel by refugees are withdrawn as the result of Britain leaving the EU.
Prices at the fuel pumps are already rising and the cost of spending money for trips to our neighbours in northern France has increased because of the devaluation of sterling.
It seems Kent will be hit on a number of fronts by the Brexit vote, with no apparent benefit in sight. John Cobbett Foxgrove House, Hollingbourne
Those who voted to leave the EU are being asked if they are happy with the consequences and, as one who fought against membership for more than 40 years, I can confirm we are very happy.
These consequences include the restoration of democratic control of government to this country, the functions of the executive being removed from unelected, and immovable, bureaucratic appointees in Brussels and returned to elected representatives in Westminster, whom the people can replace at elections.
They also mean that the steady erosion of British common law in favour of the Napoleonic system used on the Continent can now be terminated, we can regain control of our fishing grounds, we can once again take our seat at trade negotiations with the rest of the world rather than relying on EU apparatchiks and the country is saved from proposals to transfer our Armed Forces to some sort of pan-EU organisation.
The ending of our participation in the free movement of people offers hope to the working class, who have seen their pay, conditions and indeed hopes of employment undermined, while pressure on the NHS, schools and available housing will be relieved.
This is a victory for the ordinary people over selfish elites and should be celebrated as such. Colin Bullen Douglas Road, Tonbridge
Just like the crooks running the EU, Richard Byatt thinks we need more of the same from the EU to bring us hope (Kent Messenger letters, July 1.)
More debt? Like the ‘black hole’ in the EU accounts of £259 billion, not signed off for 20 years, of which our share is £34bn.
More regulation? Like the ban kentonline editor on river dredging contributing to unprecedented flooding here.
More immigration? That’s ruined Sweden, flooded Greece and Germany, closed down the town of Calais and brought violence and unrest.
More youth unemployment? It’s the worst in Europe.
In more than 40 years in the EU we’ve had little influence and mostly been voted down by other countries with their own self interests.
The only hope we have is to get out of this overpriced, wasteful, undemocratic club slowly turning Europe into a basket case. Phil Granger Alma Road, West Malling
I note MP Damian Green is angry at the result of the EU referendum and cites the narrowness of the majority voting to leave the EU.
In his constituency there was a 77% turnout and 60% of the votes cast were to leave.
To put these figures in context, in the 2015 general election there was a 68% turnout and Mr Green obtained 52% of the vote. You can draw your own conclusion. Ann Achow Smalhythe Road, Tenterden parliamentary representatives.
Nigel Farage is stepping aside as leader of Ukip. Maybe we will see him do one of those tours that other ex-politicians – such as Ann Widdecombe – have tried. “An Audience With Nigel”, coming to a theatre soon. Book early.
And what is the future for Ukip? The party has built up a significant presence in Kent but faces tricky county council elections next year.
Follow Paul on Twitter @ PaulOnPolitics
Talk about a messy break up. Two weeks on from Brexit, both sides are still fighting their corner like a punch-drunk heavyweight staggering forward for one final push. In and Out are trying to deliver a knock out blow but no one seems to have told them the fight was over two rounds ago.
Their respective promoters also seem none the wiser and continue to trash-talk each other, while even the most bloodthirsty members of the crowd have begun to flinch at the scale of the violence.
Leave won on points a fortnight ago, yet it seems this clumsy scrap won’t end until one of the campaigns hits the canvas.
The sorry state of a post-Brexit economy wasn’t enough to bring the contest to a close, neither was the seemingly endless implosion of Jeremy Corbyn’s quasipro-EU Labour party.
Both of those almost seem like undercards to the main event; a Tory leadership contest like no other.
One which would be right at home in an episode of The Thick of It set in Ancient Rome.
Our next prime minister, the person who will attempt to engineer a brave new independent Britain’s global rise, will be born from a breed which has seen as much back-stabbing as an episode of Made In Chelsea.
And this new leader will take the reins without public backing. Call me old-fashioned, but in an era where personality politics is on the rise and party policies are more important than ever, that doesn’t quite sit right.
It seems we have voted to get out of one ‘undemocratic institution’ only to be flung into a new one, most probably led by staunch Remain supporter Theresa May.
Ironically the birth of that government seems like the only thing that will bring the Brexit bloodbath to an end.