LETTERS
Incompetent Juncker
The resignation/sacking of ‘boozy bully’ Jean-Claude Juncker (Mail) as Luxembourg Prime Minister immediately before his appointment as european Commission president was partly a result of the ‘Bommeleeer Affar’ (Bombers Affair).
This ‘affair’ was a series of bomb attacks on infrastructure installations and public buildings in Luxembourg between May 1984 and April 1986.
The perpetrators and their motives remain unknown, giving rise to various conspiracy theories: many believe members of the Luxembourg government, the Grand Ducal family and members of the State Intelligence Service (SReL) were involved.
On November 19, 2012, Tele Letzebuerg aired a story alleging that Marco Mille, former head of SReL, had used a wristwatch to record, covertly, a confidential conversation with Juncker in 2008. According to the report, Juncker later found out about the recording, but took no action against Mille and allowed him to leave the service in 2010 for a position with Siemens.
A transcript of the conversation was published by D’Letzebuerger Land, highlighting the disorganised state of the secret service. It mentioned links between Grand Duke henri and MI6, and referred to the Bommeleeer Affar.
On December 4, 2012, the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies set up a parliamentary inquiry into allegations of SReL misconduct, including the illegal bugging of politicians, purchase of cars for private use and allegations of taking payments and favours in exchange for access to officials.
Witnesses at the inquiry claimed SReL had conducted six or seven illegal wire-tapping operations between 2007 and 2009 as well as covert operations in Iraq, Cuba and Libya.
The report concluded that Juncker should bear political responsibility for SReL’s activities, that he had been deficient in his control over the service and that he had failed to report all of the service’s irregularities to the inquiry commission.
Juncker denied any wrongdoing, and after a seven-hour debate in the Chamber of Deputies on July 10, the withdrawal of support by the Christian Social People’s Party’s coalition partner, the Luxembourg Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), forced Juncker to agree to new elections. he tendered his resignation to the Grand Duke on July 11.
Dismissed for incompetence as PM of tiny Luxembourg, this man is now president of the european Commission. Why and how?
ALAN RITCHIE, Belfast.
Swiss role
The UK/US/eU so-called ‘democracies’ elect representatives who are free to ignore voters’ wishes — which can create extremism. Switzerland 700 years ago was more democratic than we are today: the Swiss four-language group referendum democracy union is the best model for a future eU.
The Isle of Man isn’t in the eU, although it’s part of Britain, and the border/customs to and from it aren’t a problem. This could be a solution for the rest of the UK: england and Wales can safely leave the eU, while Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar could remain in the eU, as they voted.
This would prevent the borders between Northern Ireland and the Republic, and Spain and Gibraltar becoming a problem. The Scottish/ english Border could be treated as the Isle of Man border has always been.
The Swiss were told by the eU to give up their referendum democracy if they wish to join the eU, but it is what holds the four language groups of Switzerland together. They have now withdrawn their application to join the european Union.
It seems to me that, in the referendum, the UK realised the eU is undemocratic. Concerns about how welcome eU citizens are in the UK can be soothed by referring to the same anti-eU feeling in other eU members states.
STEVE NICHOLSON , Oxford. DeAR Great British public, I’m French. I came to London in 2001 to work in the NhS. I’m a highly specialised cancer nurse. What were you all thinking! I am off back home — as a result of the message I’m getting from you. I suggest you all lobby your MPs to train a lot more British nurses if you want to receive safe levels of care. Bonne chance!
MARIANNE RENARD, London N1.
How Boris met his Ed
IT was journalist eddie Mair who finished Boris Johnson when he confronted him on TV about being sacked from a newspaper for making up a quote; being sacked from the Conservative front bench for lying to then party leader Michael howard about his affair with Petronella Wyatt; and agreeing to provide a reporter’s home address to a convicted fraudster so the journalist could be duffed up.
A pretty nasty piece of work, as Mr Mair said, and one entirely unsuitable for Prime Minister.
J. CONNELLy, Paisley, Renfrewshire.
Foul is fair?
ALeX SALMOND could not resist having a go at Michael Gove in the Commons, calling him Macbeth for dispatching Boris Johnson. The impression given was that the SNP would never stoop so low as to indulge in such manoeuvring.
Anyone who studied what happened to Roseanna Cunningham when she stood for leadership against Nicola Sturgeon in 2004 might think differently.
When Nicola was heading for a hiding from Roseanna, Alex unexpectedly steeped in to the race.
You might argue that was the best result for the SNP, but don’t let them pretend skulduggery is unknown in Nationalist ranks.
F. THOMPSON, Hamilton, Lanarkshire.
Obey the voters
AFTeR the result of the referendum in Scotland, the SNP was told to accept the will of the people.
Now, after the eU referendum, the losers cry out that they need not follow the wish of the voters.
If and when there is a vote in the Commons, each MP should consult their constituents and vote as they wish. That is democracy.
Voting against the will of the constituents is courting danger.
BILL HANSEN, Glasgow.
Best of both worlds
I qUITe agree with the First Minister that the Scottish Government needs to consider how we retain access to our neighbours in europe.
After all, our exports to the eU are worth about £12billion annually and that supports 250,000 jobs. Let’s not forget though the importance of our trade with customers in Wales, england and Northern Ireland. That is worth almost £50billion and supports one million jobs.
how can we get the best of both worlds — that is what the negotiations should all be about.
MARTIN REDFERN, Edinburgh.
Defending democracy
The SNP’s favourite terms at the moment are that it is a ‘democratic outrage’ and it’s ‘democratically unacceptable’ that Scotland is being taken out of the eU against its will.
In my view and that of many others it will be a democratic outrage and democratically unacceptable for east Lothian, edinburgh, Borders, Dumfries and Galloway or any other of the 32 Scottish Authorities to be ripped out of the UK against the will of the vast majority of their electorates by Glasgow and Dundee.
I’m sure that Miss Sturgeon and her acolytes will accept this. It is entirely
consistent with her own logic, and I’m sure she will readily agree to allowing any such areas to remain in the UK or, at least, allow another in the series of neverendums to put this to the relevant voters.
DAVID K ALLAn, Haddington, East Lothian.
Advantage, Maskell
WIMBLEdON commentators should be made to watch videos of dan Maskell. In his inimitable manner, he described the match in play so beautifully.
Present-day people seem to think every second should be filled with their remarks and are such a distraction, I now watch with the ‘mute’ button on.
AnnETTE CHRISTY, Wrexham.
Backhand compliment
BBC tennis commentator Andrew Castle is the latest public figure to fall prey to the politically correct moral thought police. Referring to Marcus Willis’s stunning girlfriend Jennifer Bate, a dentist, he said: ‘It’s a pity my dentist doesn’t look like that.’
The ever-alert professionally offended lobby leapt on this remark as sexist and inappropriate and, initially, Mr Castle commendably gave them short shrift.
With sad inevitability, however, he subsequently issued an apology, obviously under pressure from his spineless bosses at the BBC, ever willing to appease selfappointed victim groups. Mr Castle recognised that careers are now destroyed on the altar of political correctness.
But the social justice warriors must have been taken aback by Miss Bate’s response: ‘It’s disappointing that some innocent, funny, light-hearted comments are taken as sexist. It’s hilarious — no offence taken.’
What a refreshing, delightful and sensible lady! Her comments will upset the complainers. She’s a woman, and the social justice narrative dictates that she must be offended, but Miss Bate is obviously made of sterner stuff and is confident in who she is, obviously able to take care of herself.
Her children and her boyfriend are very lucky to have such a positive influence in their lives.