Readers' letters - February 28

When I look at the way this country is going, I despair. I used to be immensely proud of it, but now I find it hard to feel the same.

As a nation we have voted to leave the security of the European Union – it seems because many don’t like immigration. They have voted in another Tory government because it seems they don’t like the Labour leader.

This despite austerity measures hitting us hard with no end in sight to the policy. I struggle to understand the mindset of people who would prefer to endure this with all that it means.

Our schools are now facing draconian cuts which will mean larger class sizes and fewer teachers.

We are seeing the virtual abandonment of any decency and care for the disabled, the elderly and mentally ill citizens – in fact the end of everything that made our country the envy of the world. All because they don’t like the leader of the Labour Party.

We are still a very rich country. After all, we can, it seems, afford to spend £250bn on a missile system that is of no real use to us as we could never use it!

Our present Prime Minister is taking us back to the dark days of Thatcher.

Despite being unelected, even by her own party, Theresa May acts like she has a mandate for her despicable actions. Nothing she has done since she took office will make our lives better but much of it will make life a lot worse for many of us.

We seem to be wondering why someone doesn’t do something about it. Well, there is someone, but you have rejected him because you don’t like him! Think about that when your free health service goes and your kids’ school has no teachers.

Jeff McCann

via email

Winning the war after the battle

In last June’s referendum, 17.4 million of us voted to leave the EU in order to take back control of our country, including immigration, controlling our borders and making our own laws, which for the last 44 years our politicians had outsourced to the EU.

The Brexiteers won and when Theresa May became PM, she made it very clear that “Brexit means Brexit”, respecting the will of the people and despite the constant barracking from the Remainers.

However, David Davis, the EU Exit Secretary, on a visit to Estonia, stated that we were not going to “suddenly shut the door” on foreign workers’ jobs when we leave the bloc, adding that it would take several years before British-born workers were ready to take over the jobs that are currently done by migrants.

Whilst nobody expects that migrants should be expelled, we expect that we control the numbers coming in, that’s what we voted for and, considering Mr Davis was a leading Brexiteer, his statement is quite extraordinary.

While we won the referendum battle itself, we now we have to win the war, and that means holding the political establishment to account to ensure that we get exactly what we voted for.

Philip Griffiths

North West President, UKIP (UK Independence Party)

Deter not kill grey squirrels

Grey squirrels have been scapegoated again for the decline of the red squirrel.

Horrific plans to kill grey squirrels have even been announced. But it is people, and not grey squirrels, who are largely responsible for the decline in red squirrel numbers. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was red squirrels who were treated as ‘pests’ and slaughtered in their thousands. Harsh winters and disease epidemics reduced red squirrel numbers even further. According to a Bristol University report, there is little evidence killing grey squirrels is the best way of conserving red ones. But in any case, grey squirrels are just as capable of suffering as their red counterparts.

There are many humane ways of deterring unwelcome animals. Free advice sheets can be ordered from Animal Aid. Phone 01732 364 546 or email [email protected]

Isobel Hutchinson

Director, Animal Aid