Readers' letters - July 20

I was not able to attend the meeting organised by Tim Farron to discover why people had voted to leave the EU.

I would like to use your column to explain to your readers and Tim Farron my reasons for voting to leave.

In 1975, I voted to remain in the EEC, a free trade organisation. In the 1980s it became the EEU, the beginnings of a political union, and in the 1990s it became the EU, a political organisation whose aim was to become the United States of Europe.

This hidden agenda was not what I and many of my generation had voted for in 1975.

From the inception of the EEC until 2000, I worked administrating the Common Agricultural Policy.

It soon became obvious that the Germans made the rules, the British obeyed the rules, the French ignored the rules, and the Italians, and later the other Mediterranean countries, did not know that there were any rules.

The whole organisation was corrupt.

Beef farmers throughout the EEU used growth-promoting implants to produce leaner, better quality and heavier meat.

But there was a surplus of beef. EEU solution? Ban growth- promoting implants, reducing the total amount of beef produced, and justify the ban by saying that they may cause harm to human health (without any evidence).

To be consistent, ban the import of any beef which had implants.

The USA went to the World Trade court and the ban on their beef is declared illegal and the ban is lifted.

To this day, consumers in the EU are protected from beef produced in the EU from having implants, but beef which has had implants and ‘may be dangerous to human health’ is imported and consumed in the EU.

Millions of pounds were paid to export beef to third countries to get rid of the surplus. Who received the subsidies? Not the farmers, but the traders.

The EEU introduced milk quotas to reduce the surplus of milk in the early 1980s.

Twelve years later, the EU checked the Italian compliance with the rules and discovered they had done nothing to comply and decided a fine of £1.4b should apply.

EU decision? The Italians did not understand, so they should start to comply and we will write off the fine.

To his credit, John Major would not accept this and eventually they were fined £400m.

Did they ever pay it? I do not know, but I would expect it got lost in the EU accounts, which the auditors would never sign off.

Greece was allowed to join the Euro, when everyone knew that their economy did not meet the criteria required, with all the subsequent consequences for both Europe and Greece.

In the EU, the end always justifies the means. It is a snowball careering downhill, out of control, getting bigger and more dangerous with each revolution.

Mr Farron, these are some of my reasons for voting to leave, as well as believing the £180m a week net contribution made to the EU would be better spent in this country.

Not the £350m that Boris the Buffoon claimed. That claim was nearly as fanciful as George Osborne’s claim that each family would be £4,000 a year worse off if we leave the EU.

But that is politicians for you, but, of course, no one will know better than you, as you are one.

Happy Brexiteer

Phone habit has gone too far

It was reported three members of the public stopped to take photographs on their mobile phone of an injured and dying man. It has been apparent for some time that the mobile phone has become an addiction. When people stoop to the ghoulish act of photographing dying people, it is clear something is very badly wrong in our society.

Dr Barry Clayton via email

I’m impressed by Jonathan

With Nigel Farage standing down as UKIP party leader, the campaign for his replacement is now under way. Nigel is a hard act to follow, so whoever takes over has to have those special qualities needed to lead the party to even greater future success.

That means they must have the ethos that is required, along with the ability to unite the party, appeal to the public, attract new members and be recognised as the new face of the party.

One name that stands out is Jonathan Arnott MEP, who I had the pleasure of serving when I was on the NEC and he was General Secretary. I witnessed his many abilities at first hand and was very impressed. A former school teacher, he is trustworthy, capable and just the person that can take the party forward.

With the EU referendum won and preparation for Brexit about to begin, UKIP is on the next step in shaping the future of the UK and it is important we elect the right person as our leader.

Philip Griffiths, North West President, UKIP

Thank you to our supporters

Galloway’s Society for the Blind is pleased to announce our street collection in Garstang on Saturday, July 16, raised £216.37.

We would like to thank everyone who showed their support for Galloway’s Society for the Blind.

We would also like to give an extra special thank you to our volunteers who gave up their time to collect on behalf of the charity.

Thanks to the generosity of the Garstang community, Galloway’s is able to continue to make a real and positive difference to the lives of those living with sight loss in the local area.

If you would like to find out more about our services or how you can support us, contact Anna Eddowes-Scott on 01524 414846.

Anna Scott, fundraiser, North Lancashire

It’s wonderful news for church

What wonderful news about the grant of £100,00 to St Ignatius Church for urgent repairs. It is indeed the miracle that we have prayed for, for so long.

Hopefully work will commence on the roof before the winter rains and snow arrive to compound the existing damage that has already occurred.

Thankful Ignatian