Dear Sir, I read ‘Lets Heal The  Rifts’ comments from our M.P and, while taking the opposite view, I do have much in common with his sentiments. Unlike him I am not disappointed in the result but join him in deploring the conduct of so many of the campaigners. The people I know have been misled to an unacceptable extent  by their antics which reflects no merit on our senior politicians. Both sides deliberately misled our Nation, vieing in the telling of ‘porkies’ and both sides  deserve condemnation. It is to be regretted that ‘Leave’ misquoted the proper amount the EU costs Britain by not allowing for the appreciable rebate figure or the ‘grants’ returned for specific purposes when they should have quoted the net figure which is considerably less.   Having said which, the ‘grants’ which do come back  will still be available to our Government to distribute in a similar fashion.  After all, that is where the present Agricultural and Regional grants  come from. – our own money. That is where our M.P’s could, should  and must apply pressure to ensure it is fairly distributed to maximum advantage, not disappear into the Government’s maw – to lesser effect. The lesson of the last 20 years is  that Governments don’t so much spend money effectively as waste so much of it. I also tend to have some differences with Farage’s comments  but my recollection is that there was no promise to pay that £350 million for the sole benefit of the NHS – although help is sorely needed, it is a wasteful organisation which, among other things, would benefit from having fewer and less expensive/costly chiefs and more workers.                           But I strongly disagree with the misbehaviour of members of the Remain side. The scare tactics of war, the threat of penal budgets, were rather crude ‘persuasions’ which have faltered. When our PM  David  Cameron intimated the backing of Churchill for a European State/Federation in front of an audience of 6000, plus TV coverage, he omitted to mention that Churchill specifically excluded Great Britain and it’s Commonwealth. The unanimous conclusions of 600 economists was a jest. When I studied economics (long ago but no change here) the start line was “if this. this and this happens then that is likely to happen’’ – but only likely. By the time it is definite it’s history. Generally three economists in a room are likely to reach at least three conclusion. So 600 of one mind? Unbelievable. The Government insistence that we already control our own borders  is a dangerous delusion. Immigrants have long had place and value in our progress and prosperity. That will inevitably continue, but with such a high density population in an already overcrowded island those borders cannot be wide open.  There are insufficient amenities, housing, schools, health facilities, even transport are inadequate. Controlled immigration is a difficult problem but one which must be solved. All in all neither side has clean hands and in future they must do better. My greatest disappointment, dismay even, is the insidious way in which, under successive gullible Governments, Britain has been gradually sucked into the maw of a much more intrusive organisation than that promised by Heath as being ‘no more than a single market  with no further political or financial implications’  That was never the truth. It was simply the bait of the EEC as a first step towards the EU as it now is, and the ever tightening integration planned, The danger was not in Britain leaving  but in remaining in the EU. A lumbering panjandrum of inflexible thinking  and a flawed single currency. All the odds were stacked against Greece from the beginning. There is great uncertainty about stability of Italy it’s Banks and static economy, Spain is presently dependent upon it’s (foreigners) housing market and all three countries have horrible unemployment problems. Other EU Countries are beginning to question their place in the EU suggesting a complete rethinking of it’s role is needed. A breaking point was inevitable.  At present Britain’s economy is perhaps not quite as fragile as is often quoted. Truly it does need to grow and strengthen but the initial reactions of the markets was only to be expected, simply because markets always over-react then adjust. This they have
done, Footsie is up and  sterling was generally considered a bit high in any case, which didn’t help exports. I would like to add one little thought as a voter in the only other Referendum we have ever been allowed on this subject. At that time a very high proportion of the people felt very strongly that we were betraying our allies by signing to the EEC which prevented us trading with Australia, New Zealand and many other of our traditional trading nations, most of whom gave tremendous support during 1939 to 1945.  We hit them pretty badly and caused much hardship and I, among many, thought it unacceptable. It is noticeable that some of those friendly countries have already given encouraging signs towards future trading. I have every confidence that there will be more. Britain is a good country well capable of expanding it’s economy and influence through using it’s skills and innovative skills. As befits the ‘cradle of democracy’ we must accept the result of this Referendum based as it was on the founding principle of one man, one vote. I fully support our MP in his call for facing the challenges ahead and healing the rifts, putting behind us the shortcomings of both parties. In the words of reader Mrs C Norton let’s “put the Great back into Britain and honesty back into Parliament, buy British wherever possible and stop sending our young men to war” J D Whittaker, Woodham