BIG PICTURE
evidence to suggest that his bravado has turned any other difficult situation into a fantastic opportunity; indeed the case of Nazanin ZaghariRatcliffe, imprisoned in Iran, shows that it has had the exact opposite effect.
And then bravado, like belief, doesn’t change facts. It doesn’t change the fact that leaving the EU reduces our rights.
It doesn’t change the fact that a country of 65 million people has less bargaining power with the global giants China and the USA than a group of countries that counts 550 million citizens.
It doesn’t change the fact that without the mutual recognition of professional qualifications that EU membership brings, many professionals cannot work for clients in Europe.
It doesn’t change the fact that diverging from EU regulatory regimes for pharmaceuticals, food, chemicals or construction products will necessitate checks at borders and it won’t remove the costs and delays that those will impose on businesses in Macclesfield and across the north west. An optimistic facade doesn’t change the truth that leaving the EU would be a massive act of national self-harm for the UK. Chris Foster (address supplied) IN the three months since the local elections in May, that saw the Conservatives no longer in power for the first time in the history of Cheshire East, Labour councillors are hard at work with our Independent colleagues.
We’ve introduced a new culture of openness and transparency, are beginning to unpick the damage done by previous administrations and are seeking to minimise the effects of the austerity policies of the Conservative Government.
Climate change is the greatest challenge facing our generation and something we moved to recognise and address from day one.
We will seek ways to reduce energy consumption across the council and will encourage sustainable means of transport.
The Mayor of Cheshire East can set an example to us all by travelling to community engagements in a hybrid or electric car.
Verges can be cut less often, wild-flower growth encouraged and a greater emphasis given to environmental factors in planning applications.
The council’s fleet of refuse vehicles could be made a lot more fuel efficient. We will also be working closely with our colleagues on Macclesfield Town Council where Labour now has a significant majority.
The town council has the power to make immediate and noticeable changes for the better in our town. Many will have seen their local environments improved by the work of the Macclesfield town ranger cleaning up grot spots.
I would also like to see David Rutley give us his views on the effect on our area of the UK leaving the EU in twelve weeks, with or without a deal.
I am glad he has been able to do some excellent work on animal welfare in Parliament, but many of us would like assurance that he is representing the views of the majority of Macclesfield voters who voted remain in the 2016 referendum.