Sir,
Like many other rural areas, the Western Isles have benefited from the UK's membership
of the EU. The infrastructure of these islands has been transformed from the early
twentieth century to the twenty-
Crofting grant payments may have been late this year. They won't be late if we decide to leave the EU as they won't exist. Along with many other EU benefits they will be lost as they will be included within the Conservative excessive austerity cuts.
Letter: Westminster has no respect for fishing
15 June 2016
Much of our human rights come from the EU charter where compliance is a necessity for EU membership. If we leave the EU the right wing Tories leading Brexit will rewrite a charter for the UK. Not the type of people noted for their compassion, we only have to look at Iain Duncan Smith and his welfare reforms.
Most of the UK's employment protection legislation comes from the EU charter. Successive UK governments have watered down the protection as much as they can. UK workers already work the longest hours for the least pay compared with those in many EU countries whilst having the least protection. The same right wing Conservative politicians have already told us employees have too much protection. They now propose to provide employers with powers that will allow them to sack employees without having to give reasons. People with 20 / 30 years could be sacked without any redundancy payments.
The fishing industry has suffered whilst we have been in the EU. As UK fishing rights belong to Westminster, they sacrificed Scottish fisherman for bigger EU subsidies for the large farms in the south of England. If we leave the EU, Westminster will use fishing as a bargaining tool again when setting up new trade agreements. The plight of the fishing industry will continue while Westminster has control. They have little respect for fishing whether we are in or out of the EU.
Archie Harper
27 Shulishader
Point
Isle of Lewis