Younger views bode well

SOME people’s reactions to Vince Cable’s comments on the way age was reflected in the voting at the referendum, show they cannot accept statistics that are a simple matter of fact – that 64% of those over 65 voted leave (and 60% of those between 50 and 64) and 71% of those under 25 voted remain (and 54% of those ages aged 24-49).

Does that mean that the old are wiser than the young or mean that the youngsters of today are showing a great deal more tolerance, interest and desire to relate to our European neighbours – and, indeed, to “foreigners”, here and overseas – than was possible when I was young, when some of us were very prejudiced?

Vince’s comments were sharp but true concerning the temptations of nostalgia for the days when “passports were blue, and faces were white and the maps were coloured imperial pink”.

This is not hate speech but just stating a fact! It was the votes of the oldies that “crushed the hopes and aspirations of the young for years to come”.

The attitude of younger people today bodes well for peace and prosperity in the future.

They have voted for continued links with Europe, but rightly insist that does not mean they are not glad to be British.

If we deny that, we are agreeing, not merely with the nostalgia of the past, but with the crazed man who murdered Jo Cox MP. Angela Robinson

Southport

SCRIMPING AND SAVING

EVERY time the Labour MP Bill Esterson opens his mouth he wants to blame the Tories for our current situation.

But what he wants everyone to conveniently forget is how we got to where we are now.

It was as a result of the last Labour government’s disastrous financial policy.

The Tories are penny-pinching for a reason, and those who think that money is just there to be thrown away need to be put under financial supervision.

And any business person who supports Labour is wrong, because you can’t run an economy by blowing every penny and drowning in debt. Maybe that’s why businesses fail. I wouldn’t give Jeremy Corbyn one penny until all the debts are cleared, because only a moron throws money away. You can’t take all the water from the well in one go, you have to leave some for tomorrow. M O’Malley Southport

LIVE EXPORT BAN CALL

I HOPE that calls by Michael Gove for industry experts and campaigners to submit evidence about the live export of animals is not just another Tory sound-bite.

EU rules currently prevent the UK banning exports of livestock but plainly after Brexit that is something we would be free to do.

It is estimated that 20,000 live sheep were exported last year to Europe and like many I think that is 20,000 too many.