UK has had major role in formulating EU laws
A NUMBER of correspondents have stated that the UK has had no influence on EU laws in 40 years, even suggesting that they have been imposed on the UK.
But that is simply not true and is a good example of the power of propaganda and myths to influence what people believe.
The UK has in fact played a major role in formulating EU laws and regulations, especially in relation to workers’ rights and environmental issues.
And it’s ironic that it was veteran British Diplomat John Kerr – now Lord Kerr of Kinlochard – who drafted the text that sets out the procedure for leaving the EU in the early 2000s.
Little did he realise that the UK would be the first to use it.
In 40 years the UK has voted for approximately 90% of EU laws; and can veto others that conflict with our national interest such as foreign policy issues.
Bryan D Prescott Caerphilly
Not such wise words from Trump
PRESIDENT Donald Trump, above, as he moves towards the end of his four-year term of office is not known for profound wisdom or detailed scholarship in the statements that he makes, sometimes online.
The most recent instance where he said of the Kurds, under threat of attack from neighbouring Turkey, that “they didn’t help us with Normandy” during the Second World War is surely quite a crazy comment in terms of its present topical reference.
Such indifferentism leaves the door open for Turkey to attack the Kurd community aggressively.
There is arguably some wisdom in Trump wishing not to become embroiled in wars in the Middle East as a number of his presidential predecessors have done, notably Presidents Bush, pere et fils. But to wash one’s hands of a situation in which the USA was already involved may be another matter.
Michael O’Neill
Penarth
Ridiculous rules
THE GAME of rugby is being ruined by the ridiculous rules regarding the tackle area. The easy solution is to introduce the playground game of “touch and pass”.
John Harding Llanrumney, Cardiff
In 40 years the UK has voted for approximately 90% of EU laws
Parliament name is important
THE debate over bilingually renaming the Welsh Assembly building to Senedd Cymru and Welsh Parliament should not be as polarising as it is.
I want each country within the British Isles to have its own national parliament.
At Westminster, the members can
meet in the Commons chamber and ministers can meet in the Lords chamber.
So it is necessary for non-Welshspeakers to know the building in Cardiff Bay is a parliament, not an assembly. Since it got the powers to make primary legislation it has been a parliament. It will not take away from the history of Wales having a parliament in the 15th century with the name Senedd, it will make clear that in a bilingual country free from the violence of that time that Wales has a parliament in the 21st century. Cllr Jonathan Bishop, Community councillor for Nantgarw
The small print: Letters will not be included unless you include your name, full postal address and daytime telephone number (we prefer to use names of letter writers but you can ask for your name not to be published if you have a good reason). The Editor reserves the right to edit all letters.