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I voted Remain in the referendum as I believed that our future belonged firmly with Europe and especially not with the United States. We are naturally and politically more akin to Europe than than any part of the globe. At least I thought so.
After this last week I have changed my mind. The European Union (or at least its leaders) are now behaving in a manner more like the old Soviet Union. They treated our prime minister with a complete lack of respect and even contempt.
Michel Barnier, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker behaved like schoolroom bullies during the Salzburg summit.
Who elected them? Not the British people. This, all because we had the temerity to exercise our democratic right and vote to leave. Woe betide any other country who decides to do the same.
The Labour Party is also behaving disgracefully using this for political opportunism. They do not have a coherent policy on Europe but continue to oppose everything and anything that is proposed by the government. Why is Jeremy Corbyn so quiet these days?
Sadly, I would now more likely vote Leave than Remain.
Julian Read
Haddington, East Lothian
I have read with interest – but not surprise – the speech from Theresa May yesterday after the Salzburg debacle. The bulk of it is the same old predictable rhetoric other than, in my opinion, the statement that we deserve more respect.
This minor admonishment needs analysis: was it not our politicians who blamed all problems on Europe for decades? Was it not a British prime minister who called a referendum to garner votes for an election? Was it not British politicians who stated we must follow the will of the people?
It was our politicians who knew full well that we have a land border with the EU and Gibraltar. The insoluble nature of border controls was as plain as a pikestaff, yet they still pushed on.
The four freedoms of the EU are also not new and not secret, so why on earth have we wasted over two years on trying to nullify one or more of them? I have not even mentioned ludicrous speeches from our politicians that have insulted the intelligence of said Europeans.
Respect does not even enter the arena. The EU has been patient with us for years, and now I fear they have just about given up on our self-inflicted path to ruin.
Robert Boston
Kent
Another day another meaningless slogan to add to “the will of the people”. We now have “threatens public trust in our democracy”. Someone needs to tell Theresa May the public lost trust in the Tories’ idea of democracy a long time ago. Whether from the many broken manifesto promises of her predecessor, the downright untruths propagated by the disgraceful Leave campaign or the the totally unrepresentative influence of a minority of extremist Brexiteers who have only their own self interest, be it power or money, at heart. How can she expect anyone to show her or her plans respect when even her own senior colleagues refuse to.
G Forward
Stirling
Our indifference to Yemen is disgraceful
Over five million Yemeni children are threatened with malnutrition and famine and the United Nations humanitarian chief is stating that Yemen might reach a tipping point where the irreversible loss of life becomes inevitable. Isn't that perplexing?
It is cynical that we reached a stage where we have become indifferent to the harrowing images of children clinging to life, of homes destroyed and women brutalised by war, sexual violence, forced labour, starvation, impoverishment and physical and psychological traumas.
Children in Yemen face uncertain futures. Yemen is increasingly becoming a failed state, an ideal environment for the nourishment of terrorism and extremism. Yemen is close to Europe. What if Yemenis start mimicking their Syrian brethren and start flocking in hordes to European shores? Will they then make front page headlines?
Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob
London NW2
Tess Holliday could be a great role model – but not because of her weight
The controversy around Tess Holliday’s cover on Cosmopolitan misses the point about what models are for. Female models have always offered an aspirational version of womanhood.
Holding this in mind, in modern life models hold an important role in reflecting how we incorporate diversity of colour, religion, physical ability, age or life achievements in valuing women in society.
However, presenting Tess Holliday, an obese woman, as not only an acceptable but an aspirational physical model is, considering the health risks, offensive and frankly dangerous. We all need to be realistic about the choices we make in bearing extra weight..
On the other hand, to represent her as a strong mental health role model for as a woman dealing with public shaming, less focussed on justifying her size than on the challenges this has placed on her would make her inclusion in the rota of cover girls more meaningful. I'm just not sure dressing her in a swimming costume really achieves this goal.
Jane Pickard
Address supplied
Our excessive travel is an environmental concern
We have become addicted to tourism, and the results can be extremely harmful. Sustainability requires an assessment of the risks and designing suitable solutions. As with plastics and (very much related) carbon emissions, accepting sustainability often means not doing or using something.
Holidays are healthy, but if all you want is sun, try the quieter spots. Culture is less than 50 miles away. Natural beauty is less than 50 miles away. Love where you live, or speak to your councillors and MP.
The pleasures of foreign cultures, customs, and practice are unarguable, but like good food should be taken in moderation that doesn’t harm you or others. It’s why I live in Shropshire.
Michael Mann
Shrewsbury
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