Readers' Letters: Rejoining EU would be a disaster for the UK

Germany and France are both in economic difficulty – Germany because of the soaring cost of energy after the EU decided to stop its member states from importing energy from Russia, and the Nordstream pipelines were blown up; and France because of soaring national debt caused by the mismatch between tax receipts and government expenditure, particularly in pensions. A UK re-entry would undoubtedly require a massive contribution from the Treasury, meaning more borrowing at a time the UK is one trillion in debt.

France is nearly ungovernable, and like Italy and Spain is seeing a breakdown of law and order, with rioting and looting and massive anti-government demonstrations on account of the cost of living. Police have become paramilitary forces armed with tear gas and water cannon.

It is also possible the AfD in Germany and National Rally in France, both Eurosceptic parties, will take power and undermine the whole EU governance by its unelected Commission. The National Rally’s Marine Le Pen is leading in opinion polls in France and AfD co-leader Dr Alice Weidel is seen favourably, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz's popularity is at 13 per cent. These right-wing parties put the nation first. They may even lead to the collapse of the whole EU project to make a “country called Europe”.

Today in Poland its Europhile Prime Minister Donald Tusk is being challenged by its President, Karol Nawrocki, over the former's intention to scrap the zloty and take Poland, whose economy has been booming over the last decade, into the euro, whose Central Bank will struggle with the aforementioned problems in France. Poland has been successful outside the euro while countries within it struggle.

The personnel in charge of the EU project do not inspire confidence. French president Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz are very unpopular leaders, while the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has gone on record saying that Russia must be broken up into small states. Some diplomat.

Make no mistake, UK re-entry would include Britain ditching the pound and adopting a foreign currency. A country which does not control its currency is not really a sovereign country. Be careful what you wish for.

William Loneskie, Oxton, Lauder, Berwickshire

Brilliant Brexit

Ten years ago, as The Scotsman editorial reminded us on Wednesday, the UK voted for Brexit.

Negotiations were conducted between Remainer UK negotiators and EU negotiators who were bent on punishing us for our sheer gall in deciding democratically to make our own way in the world. Has it been easy? No. Of course not. We are saddled with an incompetent agreement which penalises us, made with our “friends” in Europe who want to ensure no one else ever leaves again.

We have, even so, managed to agree tariff-free and quota-free trade in goods with the EU. We are the first European member of the Pacific Rim free trade area. We have negotiated trade agreements with many other major economies like India etc.

The UK's economy is faring better than leading EU nations like France and Germany. France, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain and more have been suffering massive rioting, but your editorial rejoices that the referendum to decide our future might be overturned.

Ask yourself a simple question: what was the EU referendum for? It was to make a decision. The only valid way in which we can apply to return to the EU is by holding another referendum. Why, then, did we bother with the first one?

And remember that there was another referendum which would be up for questioning if we ignore the Brexit vote. How does The Scotsman feel about a return of the debate on breaking up the UK? Would that be something to get excited about too?

Andrew HN Gray, Edinburgh

Small idea

If the UK were readmitted to the EU, as a sudden rash of people seem to desire, one result would presumably be that the small boat crossings would cease as freedom of movement would make them unnecessary. All that persons classed as EU citizens would need to get into the UK would be a ticket for the ferry.

I’m sure French authorities would be delighted to attend to the necessary paperwork, and even supply a ticket to clear out the encampments at Calais and elsewhere. New arrivals in the EU expressing a desire to go to the UK could be fasttracked to the Channel ports. It would at least take the pressure off the lifeboat service. Be careful what you wish for.

S Beck, Edinburgh

Spend at home

Gillian Martin, the Scottish government's Climate Action Secretary, is generous with other people's money. She has announced yet another £2 million to help nations in the global south prepare for and deal with the damaging impacts of changing weather patterns. (your report, 10 November). This makes £10m so far.

She is now at the COP31 talking shop in Turkey spending Scottish taxpayers' money.

Wait a minute, she is on a salary of £136,112. Surely if she is so worried about our changing climate she would lead by example and personally donate a substantial part of her salary to the countries she says are affected.

In fact all MSPs, especially the 15 Green MSPs, should be making a significant donation. Our NHS, Police Scotland, local authorities and other organisations are under severe financial constraints and are more worthy of this £10m.

Last year thousands of families approached their councils for support for homelessness. May I remind Gillian Martin and the Scottish government that charity begins at home

Clark Cross, Linlithgow, West Lothian

Alien among us

It is gratifying to hear the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £6 million to restore Scotland’s rare Atlantic rain forests. Local folk will be trained to restore precious habitats in Torridon, Morvern and Argyll, as well as help with the removal of invasive species. Isn’t it time a much greater fund was awarded to remove a vastly more destructive alien species that is systematically wrecking all before it, driving some species to the point of extinction?

Huge wind industry “Triffids” leer over our precious landscapes, bulldozing vast tracks through forests, destroying all before them. Gigantic pylons and hundreds of miles of suspended cables slaughtering swans and much-loved migratory geese.

This self-inflicted “alien” disaster is fully supported and actively encouraged by the SNP Scottish government.

Alien species and habitat destruction? Holyrood has a lot to answer for!

George Herraghty, Lhanbryde, Elgin, Moray

Dropped standards

Like many other airport users, I appreciate The Scotsman’s recent coverage of Edinburgh Airport’s challenging facilities.

Last month, our City Cab took us to the drop-off zone with our luggage. No luggage trolleys were to be found there, only some distance away, where the airport now charges £2 for a trolley, to be paid for by using a debit card machine.

The Special Assistance area is now found at some walking distance from the drop-off area – inconvenient for people who need walking assistance. How different is the fine example of Gatwick Airport, where the taxis drop off the disabled adjacent to the Special Assistance booth? Why does Edinburgh not have a similar arrangement?

On our return flight the outer lift facility from the runway to the front aircraft door was unable to operate as it was obstructed by some parked runway vehicle, so the lift facility machine was delayed as it diverted to the rear door of the aircraft to provide access. A wheelchair was provided by an airport assistant to lead us to the luggage retrieval hall. Our luggage was quickly retrieved, but the airport employee then refused to move it to the taxi rank as he waited to speak to a colleague going to another destination.

The consequence of all this delay was that we were the last in the taxi queue and endured a 40-minute wait in the dark, in a freezing wind. Unlike Gatwick, Edinburgh does not have a sheltered waiting and seating area for taxis.

Elizabeth Marshall, Edinburgh

Think positive

At the first election I voted at, a Tory canvasser came to visit me in St Monans hoping I might be inclined to vote for their candidate. In those days the Tories actually wanted to win contests and the Scottish Labour Party dominated the west of Fife and central Scotland in general. These days both parties whine about the failing of the Scottish government and don't seem too interested in actually winning.

You can't blame the SNP for wanting Scottish independence but you can blame the others for giving us Brexit, three prime ministers in one calendar year and an Energy Independence Bill that gives this country anything but energy independence.

Have they forgotten that in order to win elections they have to persuade voters to vote for their positive policies rather than promising “change” and thinking delivering it is some optional extra?

Peter Ovenstone, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire

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