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The Britain I knew fought for the greater good, so I’m marching for a Final Say referendum

Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Sunday 17 February 2019 13:14 GMT
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Brexit : What happens in the wake of another government defeat?

“I want my country back!”, they’ve been shouting, only the country they think they remember never really existed.

But the country I remember for most of my life did exist and is in great danger of being stolen.

It was never perfect, but it was a kind, decent place to live, tolerant of foreigners, and happy to collaborate with its neighbours on important issues for the greater good.

It had no truck with right-wing extremists. Its politicians, if not totally truthful, at least didn’t lie en masse and get away with it.

So I want that country back for my children and grandchildren to make it even better than it was. That’s why I’ll be marching on 23 March. For the third time.

Patrick Cosgrove
Bucknell

Reading the paper on Sunday, I did not even finish the editorial when I stopped and found my diary to write in large letters: “People’s Vote March 23 March”.

To help anyone who is undecided, I must say that the march in October was splendid and truly worth attending even without the speeches later on in the day.

The attendees I spoke with last time were from all over the country, all different ages, different political parties – yes, some were Conservatives – children, dogs and lots more; so I urge people not to be put off by these considerations.

Even though I remain fairly optimistic, this could be our final big chance to slightly influence politicians at last to come to their collective senses.

Well done, The Independent, and everyone behind Final Say and People’s Vote.

Robert Boston
Kingshill

How Gavin Williamson upset the big boys

Silly young Gavin Williamson said he was taking his new big expensive boat into the big boys’ pond to show them how important he and his friends were, but mummy said no you can’t do that.

Despite that, the big boys told their friend the chancellor that he couldn’t come for a sleepover.

Time to listen to his real friends, like that nice Dutch boy who keeps trying to stop Williamson and his friends making fools of themselves believing they can invent a time machine and go back to a golden era when Britannia ruled the waves.

John Simpson
Ross-on-Wye

No Nobel prize for you, Mr President

It appears that President Trump thinks he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize just like President Obama’s. But to be noble, one of the qualities often associated with most laureates, is beyond Trump. The Nobel should go to only the best of the best.

With the Mexican wall now a possibility, the idea of peace is being challenged. Peace cannot ever be enforced or imprisoned, it must be earned and especially protected by all.

Sorry, Mr President, no prize for you.

Dennis Fitzgerald
Melbourne

The arms trade is getting out of hand

It is clear that British businesses are selling arms to Saudi Arabia which are being used to bombard civilians in Yemen, bringing the poorest country in the region to the brink of mass famine not seen before in this century.

All the while the arms industry enriches itself and the UK government, for the last five years, has turned a blind eye. Ordinary people are being bombarded with humanitarian advertisements to donate money to the victims of this atrocious war.

The hypocrisy is astounding. Arms companies are pocketing profits from famine and mass murder and then taxpayers feel morally and rightly obliged to donate money to help those same victims.

Are we making a businesses of bloodletting?

Sulema Jahangir
Address supplied

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Deliberately blocking emergency services is unacceptable

I was horrified to read about an elderly man’s death after a couple deliberately blocked an ambulance trying to reach his care home.

However frustrated the couple may be with parking issues around their home, preventing emergency staff from doing their job can only result in harm to other people, even if in this case, the man died before emergency services could’ve helped him.

Police were called but the article doesn’t suggest any further action will be taken to investigate whether the couple bear some responsibility for potentially disrupting lifesaving treatment.

I find it hard to believe that this unacceptable behaviour will go completely unpunished. If blocking ambulences is not a criminal offence, it should be.

Deborah Everett
Manchester

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