Readers' letters - July 27

Instead of judging Tory Prime Minister Theresa May as a woman, we should be looking at her policies.

In her first week in charge, her Government has brought in policies to force struggling families needing welfare support to call a premium rate number. It is difficult enough to live on disability benefits without being charged 45p a minute to call the Department of Work and Pensions.

Theresa May has also abolished the Department for Energy and Climate Change which is a signal that the post-Brexit UK will be a disaster for the environment.

May has ignored a Government report that urgent action is needed to protect Britain from flooding, deadly heatwaves, and water shortages caused by global warming. Theresa May and her cabinet are shaping up to be nothing less than an environment wrecking crew.

John Appleyard,

via email


dover

End road chaos now


The chaos on the roads leading to the Port of Dover, causing misery to thousands of motorists beginning their annual holiday exodus to France, is likely to last all summer unless action is taken.

The official cause, extra security checks introduced by the French at their border posts, following the continued terrorist attacks in France, is understandable.

However, it appears that, despite this being a busy time of the year, the check-points were seriously understaffed, leading to claims of “payback time” by the French for our Brexit vote. While the president of the Calais area regional council, Xavier Bertrand, has said the queues are “unacceptable,” he has also stated “that Brexit must have consequences”. I’m sure the French government won’t want to harm its tourist industry, therefore it needs to take action to end this senseless situation as a matter of urgency, proving it is not an act of punishment for UK’s Brexit.

Philip Griffiths,

North West President, UKIP (UK Independence Party)

brexit

Leaving won’t be so easy

Readers interested in post-Brexit trade deals should look at the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union which may be found on the web at: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/ceta/

This agreement, with all its detailed Annexes, comes to 2,313 pages. It is naive to think that agreements of this kind can be made quickly, as they have to take into account the detailed interests of many different industries. Pressure on the Government to make deals speedily might result in quick deals which betray the interests of British manufacturers and their workers. Anyone who has been led to believe leaving the EU will be easy has been conned.

Alan Slomson

Address supplied


football

Rooney’s past it

England manager Sam Allardyce says his new job will be the “greatest challenge” of his career. Yes, and so will England winning a game!

The first ‘challenge’ for him is to demote Wayne Rooney as England captain. He (Rooney) has failed in his England duty to win anything. Even Jose Mourinho is considering selling him as he is now past his sell-by date – and too old!

Darryl Ashton

via email