The EU voices of doom and gloom

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Bank of England Governor Mark Carney (REUTERS/Frank Augstein/pool)

I do not know if leaving the EU will have any effect on jobs and income levels but nor does anyone else. It is worth remembering that not one of those organisations and individuals who are currently spreading doom and gloom about leaving the EU foresaw the 2007/8 financial collapse that almost brought down the banks. We were told at the time it was the worst financial crisis for almost 100 years and yet they could not see it coming. This vote I suggest is fundamentally about maintaining a British way of life and securing the borders of our country, the economics is any ones guess.

Barrie Middleton
Matlock

We liked your item on ex-service men in favour of remaining in - I am surprised nobody has referred to Winston's comment in 1946: “what we need now is something like a United States of Europe” and given that the various European entities have prevented another major war for over 70 years surely he was right.

Mike and Lyn Brew
Wiveliscombe

Isn't it ironic that Nigel Farage should call for second referendum in the event that there is a narrow majority in favour of staying in the EU? I seem to recall that one of his criticisms of the EU is that whenever there is a referendum that the EU dislike they have another one until they get the right result.

Chris Elshaw
Headley Down

Don’t forget Scottish business

The CBI makes a strong point about the potential damage to our economy of the continued uncertainty over our EU membership generated by the current debate. While the politicians engage in political point scoring, seemingly more concerned about hitting the headlines with their latest sensational claims, rather than founding their arguments on the facts, it should trouble us all that UK businesses are seeing a negative impact on trade and investment. Ultimately this will feed through into the jobs market as well.

The Scottish government should also take note of the concerns of business, given that they currently plan to extend this uncertainty beyond the EU vote, with a new campaign to promote the break-up of the UK. Scotland’s economy is already lagging behind the rest of the UK, the last thing we need is to further disadvantage Scottish businesses.

Keith Howell
West Linton

Keep your hands off our independence

John Whittingdale’s proposals for the new BBC Board reveal (yet again) just why we don’t trust politicians.

Even if it were possible to conceive of an independent government politician to direct our independent BBC (which I doubt), to select six Government appointees is a naked power grab. If he was interested in representation (of the license-paying public) which he claims, then he might suggest, say, four back-benchers elected from the governing party and two from the opposition. But six appointed people with an inherent conflict of interest – no. This is NOT representation; this is blatant power-play.

It is thoroughly bad governance. Please keep your hands off our independent BBC, Mr. Whittingdale.

David Fleming
Stonehaven

Commercial opportunities

The BBC’s withdrawal of its 11,000 online menus, because they are lacking distinctive content, is but the thin end of the wedge. The BBC’s provision of news, weather reports and sitcoms should also be jettisoned; after all, these are provided by other media sources. And the ending will be…? Well, because of the resultant radical decline in numbers using BBC services, the government will have an excuse to scrap the licence fee, and commercial providers of menus, news and weather will be able to bombard viewers with unwanted advertising and/or demands for monthly subscriptions.

And thus it is that a few will rake in huge profits, while the majority will lose out.

Peter Cave
London