IoS letters, emails and online postings (6 March 2016)

The European Union is undemocratic, bureaucratic, corrupt, a conduit for tax-evading multinationals, and bent on creating a United States of Europe. However, when I see the rising number of far-right politicians joining the Leave campaign I am worried. It seems ordinary people are between a rock and a hard place.

If we stay, nothing changes and we continue to suffer the rightward drift away from a social democratic entity. If we leave we are at the mercy of hard-right politicians who want to reduce our wages, our in-work entitlements, and who would almost certainly sign a TTIP-type agreement with the United States which would see the end of the NHS, and undermine our democracy by putting the profits of big business above the wishes of the people.

The only chink of light is the desire of Jeremy Corbyn to unite the left-wing parties of Europe (“Corbyn plans own EU reform”, 28 February) and their reps in the EU parliament to fight for real democracy and decent working conditions for all. Should I now vote to stay in?

Mike Jenkins

Bromley, Kent

May I remind members of the G20 of some facts (“G20: Brexit will rock world economy”, 28 February).

1. The decision will be made by the people of the UK, not foreign financiers. The G20 will have to live with the outcome.

2. The UK is a member of the G20 in its own right. It will continue to be a member, regardless of the vote, because of the size of its own, national, economy.

3. It was these “experts” who failed to foresee the economic disaster of 2008. So, how much value should we put on their opinion?

4. It is understandable that financiers should focus on the economy; but for many, although money is important, other things are more important – such as the freedom to determine one’s own destiny.

Malcolm Morrison

Swindon, Wiltshire

Hamish McRae finds “five signs” that there will be no “global recession”. But since he regularly puts a well-informed “pangloss” on economic data, from fractional reserve banking to the coming acceleration of automation, even if the western economy collapsed later this year, he would still greet the event as a useful preparation for wonderful things to come. It’s not that old Hamish finds two giant golden linings for every cloud, he hardly ever sees any clouds on the horizon.

David Ashton

Sheringham, Norfolk

I admired John Rentoul’s graceful apology to Nick Clegg (“Better late than never... I agree with Nick” 28 February). I have always felt that Clegg was sold down the river when his party was no longer required to shore up a government. Because he did perform a valuable role in keeping the coalition more on the side of compassionate rather than callous or indeed cruel.

The deficit had to be tackled but Clegg saw that the measures were, for the most part, even-handed and fair. The Tories appear to have taken the kudos for raising the tax threshold but this was a Liberal Democrat policy. For the most part I trusted him.

Judith A Daniels

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

I don’t agree with DJ Taylor about Jeremy Corbyn’s attire (“Cameron’s mum and my dad were well-suited”, 28 February). I hate to see our politicians looking the same, as it gives the impression that not only are their views similar, but that they are at odds with the rest of us. For unless you come from a professional background, you only wear a suit for a special occasion. And having to dress up to escape Cameron’s childish barbs makes me think Parliament remains stuck in a past which elsewhere has long since disappeared.

Tim Mickleburgh,

Grimsby, Lincolnshire

In 1939 my father and six others were interviewed for several jobs at the Portsmouth Dockyard. My father was given the top job because, he was told, he was the only one wearing a suit and a tie.

Ralph Cousins

Havant, Hampshire