YP Letters Special: PM's claims on EU reform fail to impress

SO, the anti-Europeans seem to enjoy being outraged by the concept that workers from EU countries should be remunerated in the same way as UK citizens by qualifying for the” in-work benefits” which are applied to bring people on low wages up to an acceptable level of income.

The payment of such benefits is in fact a subsidy to businesses large and small, provided by the taxpayer, and constitutes a system which is in need of urgent reform. This is action that the UK needs to take and this situation should not be used as a cynical and opportunistic ploy to cause dissent with our European partners, who of course cannot be seen to support discriminatory legislation.

After all, if those Brits (of who there are many thousands) working in other EC countries were to be remunerated at a lower level than their indigenous counterparts, I’m sure there would be a great outcry by the UK anti-European lobby.

I find it quite embarrassing and reprehensible that our Prime Minister is trying to get agreement from our European partners to allow such discrimination.

From C J Horsman, Halifax.

IT was reported a couple of weeks ago that 50 or so migrants from the “jungle” camp in Calais stormed a British ferry causing alarm and distress to legitimate passengers and the crew. Will they now be arrested and charged with piracy according to maritime law or will the liberal left make the usual excuses for them?

From: Michael Dobson, Feversham Crescent, York.

WELL, finally we get to the crux of the matter. One of the main reasons for staying in the EU is the possible effect an exit would have on the sacrosanct world of British football (Karren Brady, The Yorkshire Post, February 1).

When this crucial decision is about the country’s future with regard to the economy, Parliamentary sovereignty, immigration, border controls etc. how a supposedly intelligent person can promote such a fatuous argument is beyond belief. Methinks Lady Brady may have scored an own goal here.

From: Bob Watson, Baildon.

ACCORDING to Karren Brady, it is vital that Britain remains in the EU as far as British football is concerned. Strange that. We are always being told that the influx of foreign players has hurt the England team badly, and that we need to see much more young talent coming through.

From: David Nutt, Huby, Leeds.

THE “Britain Stronger in Europe” campaign clearly believe that the referendum is imminent, and are trotting out their star players.

The latest of these is Lady Karren Brady, football club executive whose article includes a tear-jerking appeal that our hard-pressed professional footballers can only be spared from performance-damaging bureaucracy if we avoid “cutting ourselves off from Europe”.

Calm down your Ladyship! The UK is, and will forever be part of Europe. European sport involving us will continue to flourish just as does world sport.

You are confusing the continent of Europe with the unfit for purpose political mess that is the European Union.

You are right to use the “side-lines” metaphor in appealing for participation in the referendum, a once and for all chance to regain Britain’s sovereignty, it is your goal that is mistaken.

From: Terry Morrell, Willerby.

YET another outrageous claim by the Europhiles. Karren Brady says that Britain would better staying in for the benefit of football! These people must be getting increasingly worried if they are clinging to straws such as this. It is a pity that that someone with her contacts cannot make a more realistic argument – or probably, more likely, there is not a better argument to make?

From: Nick Yates, Ukip Brighouse, Laverock Lane, Brighouse.

THE Prime Minister’s negotiations with Donald Tusk promised to be far reaching and fundamental; they are neither.

Mr Cameron’s discussions have resulted in an acknowledgement that Britain needs an “emergency brake” on migrants to the UK.

The EU have offered to allow us to impose a four-year ban on foreigners claiming in-work benefits, but this would only be effective after the referendum and still could be vetoed or be revoked in the future at any time.

Surely, if it is urgently required, this measure should be implemented immediately then at least we would vote in the forthcoming referendum knowing that this concession, however derisory, was in place?

It would appear that our influence in the EU is minimal.

From: Barrie Crowther, Walton, Wakefield.

DOES the Brexit campaign need a high profile leader? David Cameron’s meaningless negotiations and migrant policies are doing a wonderful job of persuading the ordinary working man to vote “out”. A “no” surge in the polls of late proves this. Carry on the good work Dave.

From: DM Loxley, Hartoft, Pickering.

WE are being guided slowly but very firmly, like a flock of sheep ignorant of their fate, into a European super-state. This is not what our fathers and grandfathers fought and died to achieve. Peace between sovereign nations can exist, even with a little occasional petulance, without the need for an oppressive and dictatorial “super-government”.

From: H Marjorie Gill, Menston.

THE European Union is about as corrupt as any so-called Banana State one could imagine. It all seemed different when we first signed up – or voted to join. If we don’t leave when we have the chance, we must be mad.