EU and elite
In his letter of 25 August, Dr Charles War drop suggests that no- one knows what will happen on departing the EU and that we should accept what comes and endure our fate. In return it appears we will live in a democratic and egalitarian nirvana.
That might be tickety boo for some of our own elite but where does it leave our working population, children and less well- off pensioners, not to say our public services, NHS and future wealth prospects if, as the vast majority of economists predict, the nation will almost certainly be worse off on departure. We have not yet left but already EU nationals aredeparting, taking their skills, tax payments and spending power. The European Investment Bank has now confirmed it will cease funding new projects in the UK – this would have included around £ 1 billion in the last year to housing associations for desperately needed affordable housing, never mind its support of other significant infrastructure projects.
Our £8bn net saving is startingto look like small beer compared to all the other potential losses, not least the obvious farm subsidies. Anyone who pays for the shopping or who has been abroad this summer canalso confirm we are all now poor er due to the Brexit- induced 20 per cent slump in the value of the pound which, ironically, is now on a par with the euro in some exchange facilities.
Further reference is made tothe unsupported al le gations of an undemocratic and corrupt EU and of an elitist stealth in achieving our original membership. How ironic, therefore, that a referendum process which came out in favour at that time is being held up as a final arbiter on why we should now be leaving with no further questions asked,and apparently no matter what the effect or cost. The EU Parliament is entirely elected, which is more than can be said for our own set- up, which allows for a completely unelected second chamber. It is the UK government which has misled t he publicon immigration figures for its own purposes and which commissioned papers on how Brexit would affect 50 sections of the economy, but refuses to publish the results.
This can only leave a suspicion that if all was rosy they would have been readily avail--
able for consumption. No evidence of possible corruption here, then.
If there is an elite at work in this process it is clearly repre - sented by those who already have andintend to hold on to their share of the cake and the rest of the diners will just have to digest their gruel and be thankful. Brexit was sold as a basis to create new wealth and opportunities and it has – but only in Frankfurt and other European cities who are expecting around 100,000 new jobsfrom there location of banks and banking and medical agencies. So rather than wait, see and hope for the best, why can we not be told what practical or economic benefits – specific, not empty and false rumours on democracy and corruption– we might receive on leaving the EU. Otherwise, for what reason will it all have been worthwhile ? GRAHAM HAY
Player Green Livingston, West Lothian