Brexit really can bring opportunities
Having lived on the other side of the world, perhaps Roseanna Cunningham MSP, when she writes in her column (PA 27/07/18), is a bit rusty in her knowledge of British history.
Before pointing out all of the doom and gloom of Brexit she should consider the well-known phrase “necessity is the mother of invention”.
Instead of throwing up her hands in despair she should recognise that political and social revolutions which occur have difficult transitional periods of change.
The 19th century industrial revolution brought total change.
Post-war Britain did not flounder on the rocks and it brought vast change to the economic and social fabric of Britain.
Similarly with Brexit, once the tidying-up of transition is complete, it may well be that when the dust has settled, the “remainers”, who at present feel disquiet, will gradually grow accustomed to the new situation and accept that Brexit is a force for prosperity and a refreshing change from the bad old days of EU bureaucracy. Thomas Murray Address supplied
WecanstopBrexit
Brexit can be stopped, according to Lord John Kerr, architect of Article 50, speaking in the Soutar Theatre, Perth on Wednesday, July 25.
Parliament can choose to withdraw Article 50 without penalty while the UK is still a member of the European Union. This could be done via a decision in parliament or preferably put back to the people through a people’s vote, which is what many remain groups are campaigning for.
He said that the economic damage of Brexit would be enormous and that the pain of this would be suffered most by those with least.
He also noted, too, that as a general rule trade halves when distance doubles, so the UK is unlikely to be able to replace trade lost with the EU with trade further away.
Lord Kerr’s long experience as a Washington diplomat showed him that UK influence in the US was enhanced by our being a member of the EU and UK influence with the EU was greater because of our relationship with the US.
Importantly, he reiterated that Brexit can be stopped; the problem is not the EU but a domestic crisis in the UK. Susannah Rae Convener Perth for Europe
Publictransport
Public transport is a crucial part of our modern day society and the four local Perth and Kinross members for Perth South – Councillor Bob Band, Councillor Audrey Coates, Councillor Sheila McCole and Councillor Willie Wilson – are keen to promote travel by public transport within the ward.
As part of this we’d like to publicise the £2 return fare for the evenings after 7pm within the Perth city and beyond.
This is great value for money and should be an incentive to encourage more people to travel into the city centre by bus.
We commend this initiative by Stagecoach and would urge the public to make as much use of the low cost fare as possible. Cllr Willie Wilson; Cllr Sheila McCole; Cllr Audrey Coates; Cllr Bob Band