We need to copy Norway

Sir - David Barlow risks turning a serious debate about the EU into a farce with his ‘Norwegian ex-government minister told me’ routine (30 May). I must stress that every figure I quote is from official sources. That Norway pay less than half per head to the EU than the UK is an official government statistic that anyone can check.

As an unthinking EU enthusiast he does not understand that in Norway the leadership elites want their country to join the EU and us to stay, and what they say is part of this campaign.

Remainers like Mr Barlow point to the list of experts who say we would lose by leaving the EU. No intelligent person accepts that sheer numbers of people supporting an argument makes that argument true. The Economists, the IMF, Bank of England, CBI and the banks who favour EU membership are the same people who supported the catastrophic Exchange Rate mechanism, wanted us to join the Euro and presided over the 2007-08 economic crisis. They were wrong then and are wrong now.

The Norwegian people have consistently rejected their leaders who want to join the EU, twice rejecting joining in referenda, and opposition is now at 70%. They know better than a couple of ex-ministers and David Barlow. We should emulate them.

Francis Lankester

Worcester

They died for unity we have

SIR – When President of France De Gaulle wanted all Americans to leave the US, President Lyndon Johnson asked if he also meant ‘all those in the graveyards’ who had fought for France in two wars within 30 years.

In this vote we should remember and respect the souls who lie in the many graveyards throughout Europe as the victims of conflicts between ambitious muscular nations whether in the east in Russia or central Europe or the Western Front and Italy and Spain.

What would their vote be?

‘Those who do not respect the lessons of history are condemned to relive them’ (Santayana) and we pass on our mistakes to our children.

The parents of those killed in the many wars in Europe would have wished there had been the unity we could be throwing away and we do so at what fatal cost to our future generations?

Remember history as you vote today.

David Hallmark

Worcester

Let’s improve EU together

SIR – MP Jo Cox ’s husband Brendan has referred to Jo’s concern about the coarsening of the referendum debate and has said that she died for her political views.

He also referred to the political and social atmosphere of the 1930s.

I would say the 1930s was a time of world economic crisis (as now) and the rise of demagogues who exploited people’s fears (again as now) about ethnic and political minorities, migration and money (the economy) and how they (the demagogues) would “solve” all your problems (as now).

On the referendum the most important thing all people of voting age can and should do is to use your vote; please don’t treat your vote as if it doesn’t matter. Your right to vote has historically been hard fought for and good people have died for that right,now sadly including Jo Cox.

I will vote to Remain. Much has to be done to change and improve the EU but that can only be done if we remain inside the club. Outside of the EU we have no voice or say about what the EU does, and yet still the EU will affect us.

By turning our backs on the European Union we may create a self fulfilling prophecy of European Union failure. The European Union is anything but perfect; it’s a work in progress and presently it’s possibly in the worst shape that it has ever been - but that is no reason to abandon the EU project.

Don’t vote Leave just because you’re peeved.

Gary H Jones

Worcester

A vote for no interference

SIR – The clock is ticking down to the most important day in this country’s calendar in more than 40 years.

No one can have failed to notice that Thursday is the EU referendum and with a fair proportion of undecided voters you really now have the opportunity to influence the direction our country goes.

I would implore those still undecided, and everyone else, to vote to Leave and make a vital stand for democracy. That is the real issue at stake, regaining the ability to govern our own country without outside interference.

That EU interference touches all aspects of our lives, including who has the right to live and work here, our economy, the red tape strangling small companies - which form the overwhelming majority of business in this country - and even how powerful our kettles and vacuum cleaners can be.

It is run by bureaucrats and unfortunately most people in this country don’t realise that it is not run on very different “democratic” principles to Westminster. Therefore we have no way to repeal bad legislation they impose.

Outside the Eurozone we are always going to play second fiddle to the majority of EU member states and as the EU expands financial pressures on existing wealthy countries, such as ours, will increase as will the democratic deficit.

Therefore, as one with only Britain’s best interests at heart, I appeal to you all to vote for Brexit. It will be one of the most important decisions you will ever make.

James Carver

MEP, UKIP West Midlands

Unelected? So are peers

Sir – Joining Europe civilised British social policy. Prior to joining, Conservative and Labour governments had refused to give legal backing to workers’ job security and health and safety. They gave little protection to consumers, and regarded gender and racial anti-discrimination laws as unnecessary. We now take these legal rights for granted, but for how long?

Before accusing the European Parliament of being undemocratic and unelected, readers might also like to think about how members of the House of Lords obtained their seats in the British Parliament.

Derek Fearnside

Worcester

I don’t buy claims of PM

SIR – The PM had a good deal of space in national newspapers to put forward his Remain plea.

Once again he cannot resist claiming certain businesses would be “at risk” (as a fact rather than speculation). He would personally be moved if the UK were to back Brexit.

In a “passionate rallying call” to wavering voters he pointed to the University of Worcester and Heart of Worcestershire College bosses backing Remain.

His “carefully co-ordinated” intervention after days of polling which spooked No. 10 also cites Worcestershire cider as being at risk. “If travel was made more complicated, the implications for the county’s tourist attractions could be “stark”. His impassioned 750-word letter seeks to level with Worcestershire voters by saying: “The EU is not perfect - far from it. Yes this country has problems but we won’t solve any of them by wrecking our economy. Inside Europe, Worcestershire, like the rest of the country is stronger, safer and better off - I say: don’t take the risk of leaving”.

I remain unclear what he means by “safer” while in the same breath he warns of a Third World War if we leave. What of the Paris and Brussels attacks and our all too porous borders? Many eminent economists and business people diametrically disagree that the UK would be “better off” in. Finally, as I understand the word “pooled sovereignty” is no longer actual sovereignty: we either have or we do not.

I don’t feel reassured or levelled with by his apparent passion. I am clear where my loyalties lie.

Wendy Hands

Upton-on-Severn

Better off in

SIR – From climate change, to air pollution, to destruction of the natural world – this generation faces huge challenges that cannot be dealt with by one country alone. This is why it is worrying that the environment has been largely absent from the EU referendum debate.

Membership of the EU has been good for the UK environment; leading to cleaner beaches, water and air, and the protection of some of our most beloved and iconic nature sites such as the River Wye We are stronger, better, cleaner and greener in.

Chris Crean

Friends of the Earth