Staying in the EU means no voice

Selfish drivers caused more pain

SIR, – May I say I take great exception to my vote to leave the EU in 2016 being labelled “misinformed paranoia”. Contrary to what your correspondent Ian McCormick states (Letters, September 15), I did my own research and used my common sense and, with what I heard and saw of the EU in action, decided that this country could do a better job of running its own affairs in a more democratic way.

Mr McCormick states the concerns of various businesses about skills shortages. Well, may I say that the chickens are coming home to roost. After years of cherry-picking the best talent from the EU and saving money by not training our home-grown talent, they have only themselves to blame.

As far as the EU is concerned, it is an ongoing project with objectives above its station. Just look at the treatment dished out to the prime minister of Hungary just last week when he was threatened with the suspension of his voting rights if he “did not toe the line”. The same treatment is now being threatened against Poland, another democratically elected government. But of course, democracy and the EU are not mentioned in the same sentence.

Staying in the EU means we will have no democratic rights and absolutely no say on its direction of travel. SIR, – On September 11 I had the unenviable task of accompanying a very dear elderly friend in an ambulance with blue flashing lights and sirens going to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Unfortunately, I had to listen to this dear lady groaning in pain every time the driver of the ambulance had to swerve to avoid motorists who appeared to be too selfish to pull over to let the ambulance through.

I am full of praise for all the care and attention that was given by the paramedics and all the staff at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary who tried to make my friend more comfortable, attending to her with care and kindness, but sadly there was nothing they could do.

I am less grateful for all the drivers who thought that their needs came before that of an elderly lady who was in a great deal of pain, made worse by a swerving ambulance.

I sincerely hope that all of those drivers who ignored the flashing blue lights and sirens blaring feel suitably ashamed and I just wish to remind them that one day it may be someone they love in the back of an ambulance with its blue lights flashing and sirens blaring. They may find that other motorists do not pull over for them, and I wonder how they will feel knowing they behaved in a similar manner.