Letter to the I: Trump Supporters in the UK Letter

It is one thing to celebrate the US Democrats taking the US House of Representatives, but we have to confront the Trump supporters in our own country.  The longer his presidency goes on the more they feel empowered.  They incite hatred against liberal democracy for problems and grievances that they are too angry and ignorant to properly understand or address.  Their cause uses the worst instincts of human nature to promote an ideology that makes no sense.  Since it does not make any sense all we need to do is stay brave in front of their anger, and calmly demonstrate that they are wrong.

Regards

Wat Tyler

Bristol

Letter to the I: Prince Charles Letter

What does Prince Charles expect from us when he says that he will keep quiet as king?  Are we supposed to be relieved?  This neatly encapsulates the silliness of our constitutional set up.  The Monarch is meant to represent the state and as such is meant to pretend to have no opinions, or risk a constitutional crisis if they have any.  Anyone with a pulse has an opinion.  The Irish election clearly shows that the sensible alternative is to have a democratic mandate for a Head of State with modest powers.  If we don't like what they do or don't say, then we can just vote them out.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Green Air Travel

While Jack Noel says we shouldn't be so "joyful" about people jetting off because of the environmental damage, I say he should not be so judgmental of them.  It is unrealistic and deeply morally folly to expect people to turn their back on flying.  We should be happy for people who use the opportunity presented by low cost air travel to see more of the world.  We should also accept the fact that such travel is an integral part of the world economy.  Since flying is here to stay we need to focus our energies away from judgment and towards innovation.  As one of the pioneering countries of aviation, surely we can task our industries with making air travel more friendly to the Earth?

Regards

Wat Tyler

Bristol

Letter to the I: Response to Mark Wallace's Article

Mark Wallace's article dripped with self justification and fantasy.  I heard hardly anyone talk about being worried about being governed by "structures" and "quangos".  They did however talk about how their public services are failing and their government feels remote, which Mr. Wallace's own party is responsible for.  It is very comforting to blame it all on structures.  But who voted in the referendum while admitting a lack of knowledge on the EU?  Who can't decide on what kind of Brexit deal they would like?  Who voted by 52% to lead us into this confusion?  After his big words will Mark Wallace have the courage confront the electorate with these questions?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Corbyn is not a Patriot

Jeremy Corbyn is not a "true Britain's true patriot" as Yasmin Alibhai-Brown claims.  Jeremy Corbyn is using the British Empire's bloody history to promote his morally disgraceful foreign policy.  His views on this subject were revealed when he said that no British military interventions since 1945 have been morally justifiable.  I am sure that would come as an insult to the people of Sierra Leone who were saved by timely British military intervention.  Or indeed those Kosovans who did not end up in a mass grave.  Yes we have blood on our hands.  But that does not mean that we are incapable of doing good.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: The Trouble with the DUP

The DUP's threats toward the Government over Brexit is just another chapter in their toxic relationship with the Conservative Party.  Ever since the signing of the Ulster Covenant the Tories have been wedded to unionists to the detriment of the country.  Back then the Conservatives supported the unionists even when they took arms from the Germans to defy Home Rule.  The Troubles were sparked by the violent Unionist reaction to Nationalists wanting basic rights. 

     The best way Theresa May can respond to the DUP's threats is to call their bluff and rule by minority.  They need her more than she needs them.  And in any case, they have always been more trouble than they are worth.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Green Flying Letter

I disagree with my fellow Bristolian Marian Connolly.  While it is important to tackle climate change, it is folly and morally wrong to expect people to stop travelling abroad by plane.  We should not begrudge the fact that more people can afford to see the world.  As Mark Twain once said the biggest killer of racism and ignorance is travel.  Instead we should direct our world renowned aerospace industries to construct fuel efficient and alternatively powered aircraft. Instead of rejecting technology we should be embracing it.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to I: Corbyn and Responsibility

Philip Cooper questions many things, including the "mainstream media".  Everything but  his but his own undeserved devotion to Jeremy Corbyn.  We should not blame the media for Corbyn supporting Brexit for several decades, we should blame him.  We should not blame the media for Corbyn supporting Friends of Venezuela, while it's government tyrannises and starves it's own people, we should blame him.  We should not blame the media for Corbyn allowing former Militants to rejoin the Labour Party and for anti-semites to take cover.  The buck should stop with the party leader for all of these transgressions; the party leader being Jeremy Corbyn.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Disappointing Artists Letter

To answer the headline to Serina Sandhu's article "Can I Love Kanye's Music Now I Know What He Thinks?", the answer  is "yes you can".  Listening to music is not necessarily an endorsement of artists, who are by nature imperfect people, like the rest of us.  In fact the artist formerly known as Kanye is tame by other artists whose work I like.  Ted Nugent's guitar work is spectacular, yet his political work is like a cheap and sleazy Third Reich.  Chuck Berry was an amazing artist but personally a sex offender and a spiteful man.  I like to hear Bono sing, but I would pay the considerable fee for a U2 concert to stop him talking.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Britain in Africa Letter

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown's opinion piece on Theresa May's refocusing on Africa was extremely short sighted.  Many parts of Africa are desperately in need of investment, so why should it not be us providing it as oppose to the Chinese?  Promoting a free market economies is not sinful, since this model has helped lift millions out of poverty already.  Many of those charities she cites as protesting have long done so because of bad economic advice from Marxist leaning economists.  Furthermore the focus of the Islamic State is now on Africa.  Africans much like us want to make a living and be free from terrorism.  So we should help them to that end.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Corruption in Prisons Letter

When Birmingham Prison was recently taken over by the Government from G4S, it was reported that this prison is awash with drugs and generally disorderly.  Leaving aside the legitimate question of why the government employs a company with an already terrible record, the staffing side should be looked at.  Surely a prison by nature has very few ways for the drugs to get in through?  So either the staff are insufficient in numbers or training in order to deal with the problem, or they are complicit in this situation.  Those who are in uniform should not be above scrutiny.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: Republicans and the Queen Letter

My own heart sank when Bob Mountfort began "at heart I am a republican -  but".  If one is truly at heart a republican there is simply no "but", since you are either fully behind the cause or not.  Anything else is just patronising and demeaning to republican campaigners.  He believes the Queen has done well at her job and thus should be respected.  Thanks to the lobbying for her considerable private interests via the Queen and Prince's Consent Law, I do not see much to respect her for.  This lobbying by stealth shows she clearly does not respect me, so why should I respect her?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: British Military Power Letter

I take C Slight's point about the government exaggerating our military power, which is frankly embarrassing.    However both the right wing and the left wing have unrealistic expectations with regards to British military power.  The former accuses opponents of basically being traitors if they do not support a huge military budget.  The latter advertises pretty much any military spending as a betrayal of domestic needs.  Both approaches are frankly absurd and dishonest.  The right need to understand that certain domestic needs need to be addressed.  The left need to appreciate that a reduction in our military power will have big long term consequences.  Both need to invoke the spirit of PM David Llloyd-George who thought creatively to confound the guns vs butter question and deliver both.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: Boris and Burkas

In contrast to the views of John L Davies, I do not admire Boris as a politician, or indeed as a person, who speaks his mind.  It is not brave or mature to judge people by appearance.  Yet this is exactly the kind of view Boris promoted in his comments about women in Burkas.  I hear much of the public supporting Boris saying that this is what they are thinking.  Well I think that they are shallow and wrong to judge someone by their appearance, rather than the content of their character.  Surely by the logic of this same group of the public, they should not be insulted, but consider this fair game?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Corbyn Letter

In contrast to Jane McLaren's letter I believe that Ian Birrell's article on Jeremy Corbyn was fine, and if anything it pulled it's punches.  I say this as someone who left what is called the Far Left of the political spectrum because of it's baggage.  It's baggage concerns showing "solidarity" with questionable groups or causes mainly because they are either not mainstream or anti-western.  But I think it's biggest baggage is ultimately anger at people and causes it does not understand or care to do so.  I am happy that today I am less angry and am more willing to listen.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Religious Liberty

Like Mike Andrews I have similar concerns about the maintenance of religious liberty, albeit from a different standpoint.  As an atheist I do not see a need for an established Church of England in the UK.  In the name of true religious liberty there should be no official church or religion.  Our laws should be made to maximise individual liberty, only stopping on the point where that liberty can infringe on other individuals.  I am fed up with the Church of England applauding themselves whenever they catch up to where society was 20 years ago.  Let individual choice decide which faith, if any, to follow.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Letter Against the Death Penalty

It is a shame that when Susan Sussman advocated the reinstatement of the death penalty, she felt the need to insult those like myself who disagree with her.  To paraphrase Thatcher; those who use personal insults usually do not have effective political arguments.  Practically speaking there are many countries around the world that have the death penalty and still have terrorism.  Furthermore, what sense does it make to deliver more martyrs to a cause that worships them?  If Susan is so keen to go ahead anyway, I vote for her to have the courage to look the condemned person's loved ones in the eye and still pull the lever herself.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: Irish Border Letter

I believe Elizabeth Simpson's praise for PM Theresa May's alleged concern for the Irish border issue is most undeserved.  She cannot be that concerned when she has for the most part delegated this issue to be resolved by political charlatans like Boris Johnson.  Reopening the Irish Question with this issue is a double edged sword.  It can reopen old wounds but maybe provide opportunities as well.  A recent polls showed that nearly a third of the people of Northern Ireland see themselves as "Northern Irish" and not British or Irish.  Maybe we should discuss how we can make political reality reflect these opinions.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: Will of the People Letter

A J Thornton can clearly multitask since they can be blindly offensive and completely wrong at the same time.  As a former colonial power it is deeply offensive, and inaccurate,  to call us a colony because we are members of the EU.  Colonies cannot influence policy.  And yet this country has managed to get the most caveats out of EU treaty obligations than any other member state.  AJ Thornton says he is with the will of the people.  That is an incredible feat when the will of the people defies both consistency and common sense.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: Extremism Letter

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown's column touched on an interesting point about the double standards in how we deal with both right wing and Islamist extremism.  What is more disturbing though is how the old divisions between the mainstream right wing and it's extremist fringes are beginning to blur.  The pro Trump rally held in London symbolised this as does vocal public support for him.  They like to wax lyrical about "liberal snowflakes" who are allegedly easily offended.  It is time the tables were turned with the same well-informed snowflakes reminding them constantly about how often their leader lies and how paper thin their principles actually are.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Brexit and Immigration

In answer to David Pitt's letter, we Remain voters understand perfectly the point Leave voters are making about immigration.  The problem is this point doesn't make any sense.  It doesn't make any sense to not allow the most easy to integrate migrants, those from the European continent, to stay in the long term.  They claim welfare below the national average level.  Many of them provide valuable labour to our NHS.  And most of their children are enthusiastic at becoming British.  Why on Earth should we encourage model citizens to leave?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: English National Anthem

I take issue with Steve Dodding insinuating that singing the British National anthem  is patriotic.  Not only is it not patriotic, since the song is a national embarrassment, I would remind him that England and Britain are not the same.  I would further remind him that "God Save the Queen" is not the English National Anthem, since we technically do not have one, so it makes no sense for our England team to sing it.  In fact there is nothing to legally say that "God Save the Queen" is the British national anthem, it merely became so by custom.  I believe this provides an ample opportunity to come up with alternative anthems for England and the wider UK that may be more interesting than the current stale piece of royal worshipping.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: NHS and Chronic Conditions Letter

On it's birthday, I have much to be thankful to the NHS for since my wife, mother and sister all work (or have worked) for it.  However an overlooked priority for the NHS is to focus on the care with people with long term chronic conditions such as M.E (known as Chronic Fatigue).  As we start to live longer lives we must keep in mind those who live daily in pain and exhaustion.  Nowadays to suit the government's and certain sections of academia, M.E sufferers are made to go through barbaric "pace trials" instead of having their condition seriously treated.  We must remember that the NHS is there to serve M.E sufferers too and so they deserve to have an NHS that works for them.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: National Service, Punk and Street Art Letter

I disagree with both points Michael Montgomery made in his letter.  National service does little for social cohesion and even less for our defence.  The Falklands War clearly proved that a force of professionals can thoroughly outfight a largely conscripted one.  His rejection of punk and street art is frankly short sighted.  A great man once described punk rock as "freedom" in music form.  Street art has done wonders to put my home city of Bristol on the map and has inspired many.  Before judging it, perhaps Michael should see it when he comes to Bristol.  Then he can decide if street art should stay, or if it should go.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: Green Aviation Letter

I fear Michael Jefford may be too hasty in proposing that the £10 billion tax subsidy to the aviation industry be axed.  I believe instead the answer lies in making that subsidy conditional on companies within that industry investing their money into researching and building more fuel efficient or alternative powered planes.  With Airbus doubting it's future in our country, we have every reason to give plane companies a reason to feel driven and feel inspired.  With the President of the US seemingly uninterested in the potential of a green industrial revolution, why should we not fill the gap?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: James Comey Letter

The former FBI Director James Comey's interview revealed what an honest man of integrity he is.  I believe it is unfair that members of the western intelligence community have little time for him, due to him making political points.  Since the US security establishment cannot take political positions to counter the attacks that their own President is directing at them, they may be pleased to have a former insider as their defender.  I sense US Republican voters are secretly more embarrassed at the unflattering personal portrait Comey's book painted of their President.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Letter to the I: Boris Johnson Letter

Boris Johnson is probably the most high profile, and least convincing, fair weather environmentalist around at the moment.  While he waxes lyrical about the environmental issues with regards to the proposed third runway for Heathrow, he proposes instead to tarmac over habitats in the Thames Estuary for an airport.  At the same time he does his best to get fired from his job as Foreign Secretary by undermining his boss.  In a country with a productivity crisis would it not be a radical suggestion to have a cabinet member who actually does their job?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: UN Security Council Football Team

I liked Andrew Bayley's idea of having a United Nations football team and suggest a modest modification.  Since it is impractical to have 193 members of a football team, which is the membership of the UN, I suggest having a UN Security Council football team.  The 15 members would be a lot easier to fit into modern football.  The most interesting feature if that the Permanent Five members will be able to veto any action the team can potentially make if they don't like it.  If this results in the team not taking sufficient action to stave off disaster, like it does in real life, surely that will encourage public debate for reform of the council?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: BBC Question Time

Mark Wallace's article about BBC Question Time was frankly odd and disingenuous.  He seems to largely blame the audience for apparent "cynicism" that exists in Question Time's political discourse.  As the editor of Conservative Home he glaringly overlooked the less than inspiring contributions of Government Ministers to the programme.  They seem incapable of answering questions and seem to treat the audience with contempt, hardly encouraging constructive dialogue.  He talks about getting politics out of "bubbles" and making it more open through social media.  On the contrary you can find no more dysfunctional and terrifying political discussion bubbles than Facebook groups.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Brexit Dividend

Further to Tim Flinn's letter I acknowledge his expertise in "no-brainer" proposals, given his backing of Theresa May's hollow NHS funding pledge.  The pledge to put EU "savings" back into the NHS means nothing if we experience economic turbulence due to our government's continued cavalier attitude to customs arrangements and the Northern Irish border issue.  May knows this deep down, hence why she has talked about tax rises.  In many ways she has learned well from Trump who has recently put the financial bill for infrastructure spending on the US taxpayer.  She wants to build a wall against the British public's dissatisfaction, and make us pay for it.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Brexit and Immigration

I find it astounding that so many critics of immigration, by sheer coincidence, seem to have had a road to Damascus moment and have become green-minded too.  They use such issues to hide the fact that they simply don't like living next to foreigners.  I follow Philip Wait's questions to the i with 2 for him.  Who is going to help us build the housing we need if we do not have migrants? Why isn't he as concerned about family planning as much as he is about migration? 

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Trump is right

Donald Trump is right about one thing; Europe needs to spend more on defence.  Germany in particular is paralysed in defence matters by post-war guilt and political interests that want to appease Russia.  It is true that if Europe took up more of the defence burden the US could spend less on it.  However Trump's previous conduct does not suggest that he wants to spend defence savings on building healthcare or education.  Most likely he wants more tax giveaways for his rich friends.  He has said the right thing for the wrong reasons.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Letter to the I: Trump's Visit Letter

I take Derek Williams' point that there are legitimate grounds to protest US President Donald J Trump's upcoming state visit.  However given what we know about the man's character, I do wonder whether such a protest will feed his victim complex which in turn feeds his narcissistic personality.  What really bothers Trump, according to his former adversary ex-FBI Director James Comey, is to have his world view challenged in person.  Of course in order for that to happen we would need a government that won't sell out our values for a trade deal.  Fancy that!

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Bill Clinton Letter

Neil Westhead's trite commentary on Bill Clinton's literary career overlooks his political accomplishments.  It is a shame and it is unfair that the Clinton Administration was portrayed mainly in the light of scandal.  The Clinton Administration's considerable achievements included; a budget surplus, a booming economy, intervention against genocide and an assault weapons ban.  Under the current administration the US faces national debt, a trade war, cosy deals with strongmen and unrestrained gun violence.  I guess we never know what we have until it's gone.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: Ukraine Journalist Letter

A firm correction needs to be made on Mary Dejevsky's article; Russia cannot "take the moral high ground".  Her entire article grasped at straws, trying in vain to make the Russian sponsored war against Ukraine and their intervention in Syria sound less bad than the journalist Arkady Babchenko faking his assassination.  There is no comparison.  Her white wash of Russia's crimes ignores the more disturbing story.  A European country is being invaded by it's neighbour.  And while this is happening journalists such as Dejevsky and too many of the British public are looking for an excuse to look away.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: United Ireland Letter

James Annett's economic case for bringing all of the island of Ireland back into the UK conveniently ignores centuries of nationalist tradition against it.  Speaking of nationalism, his point also overlooks the fact that according to a recent study, a growing majority of Northern Irish people identify themselves and Northern Irish and not Irish or British.  This gives support to an old idea of Northern Ireland being treated as a separate entity to either the Republic and the Kingdom.  This is perhaps unsurprising since new nationalisms are developed through shared trials and experiences.  However as long as sectarian squabbling and political opportunism Trump's development questions, Northern Ireland will not be in a position to control it's own destiny.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the Western Daily Press: Brexit and the Lords

Stuart Eels' letter demonstrated the tragedy in life of getting what one wants and still not being happy.  His side, the Brexiters, won the referendum allegedly in the name of allowing solely British institutions to govern us. Now because one of those institutions, the House of Lords, has made a decision that they do not agree with they apparently don't want that either.  I laugh at how many Brexiters have become overnight armchair revolutionaries.  I for one say they should not be allowed to move the goalposts any more.  They have made their bed, they can lie in it.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Support for Yasmin's Alibhai-brown's article

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown had a right to be outraged about first and second generation migrants being told to be automatically grateful for where they live.  But I would like to point out that this is merely a lazy (and racist) extension of a common right wing refrain for left wing concerns that they cannot be bothered to construct a coherent argument against.  The insinuation is that we hate our country.  What they can't get their head around is that sometimes it is a good thing to deliver hard truths about either things or people we care deeply about.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Republican Rebuttal Article to Mark Wallace

I  kindly thank Mark Wallace for his apparent interest in the UK republican cause.  He must be a very talented columnist to report on the UK Republic Convention in such depth despite him not attending it.  As someone who has been involved with the campaign for some time as a member and a supporter, I thought I should enlighten him on the people involved in the campaign who he mocks from afar.

     Judging from the tone of his earlier article Mark Wallace would likely say that Monarchists love their country's history and we republicans hate our country and it's history.  I would say to Mark that it is a dishonest and terrible smear to say that republicans hate their country.  On the contrary we love our country so much that we take it upon ourselves to make our countrymen face hard truths.  The truth is that monarchy stands in complete contradiction to the principle of democracy.  The harder truth for monarchists to face is that no one is setting up new monarchies, for reasons that are self evident.

     The people I have met in the UK Republic campaign are some of the most hard working, honest and fun people I have met.  Some of them I consider to be my close friends.  Mark Wallace cites republicans, whom he has not met, as being merely "moaners".  But what really defines republicans is their hope and determination.  Their determination that one day that all of our children, could one  day be considered potentially worthy to become Head of State.

     Mark is wrong to say that the Queen does not hold any power.  She meets with the Prime Minister in private meetings in which minutes are not kept.  She confirms incoming governments and can dissolve parliament.  Due to the royal exemption from Freedom of Information laws and the Royal Veto, the monarchy can lobby for it's private interests by stealth.  Restrictions on Parliamentary speech means that representatives can be suspended from debate for citing corruption allegations against individual Royals, or for even not calling them by their title.  The fact that this all happens within a so called "modern" democracy shows that the monarchy's apparent efforts to modernise are actually no more than PR shape shifting.

     I would like to conclude by answering Mark's last charge about we republicans being "miserable".  I concede that it is difficult to keep up one's spirits when your views are met by verbal abuse, media bias and even threats of violence.  We republicans want a happier Britain which knows the difference between having respect for our history and being obsessed by it.  We want a happier Britain where their palaces become our palaces and are open all year round for us and the world to see.  We want to see a toxic culture of deference replaced by one of mutual respect.  But most importantly we want to see a Britain in which the ballot, not birth, determines who is our Head of State.   Monarchists tend to assert that the Monarchy is a part of our culture.  If this is the case, then our culture is in deep trouble.  Our culture needs to stand for more than a system that is contrary to the values of a free and open society.  These are not hateful ambitions, they are hopeful ones.  I do hope this satisfies Mr Wallace's curiosity.

Letter to the I: Trump and Venezuela Letter

Yet again the President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro has bought himself back into power.  While US President Donald Trump waxes lyrical about how terrible Maduro's regime is, he may be undermining the means to fight it.  Hillary Clinton in her memoirs spoke much about how the US State Department provided support for democracy activists all over the world.  That was however before Trump's huge cuts to the same department took effect.  Surely Trump would not be so spiteful as to deprive those activists, just because it was an initiative that Hillary supported?  Would he?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: One State Solution to the Israel-Palestine Conflict

In her column Deborah Orr tellingly said that "The fates of Israelis and the Palestinians are bound together".  Arguably this would definitely be true if instead of a two-state solution to the conflict there was a South African one-state solution.  This would necessitate both peoples working around their cultural and religious differences to live peacefully and prosperously.  Given the fraught state of affairs at the moment, this solution looks arguably just as difficult to get to as having two functioning states.  Unfortunately the Palestinians are stuck with blood thirsty Hamas, and do not have a forward thinking leader like the late Nelson Mandela to lead them forward.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Train Fares

With regards to Katy Balls' article about the failure of her 26-30 railcard I believe her outrage is misdirected.  I simply do not see, as a 31 year old who struggles to pay for train fares, why this age group should be singled out.  We do not need wholesale nationalisation.  But we do need our train companies to be as fiercely regulated to get the best value for customers, as the air travel market is by the EU.  The government has irresponsibly allowed the same companies to monpolise our railways and buses without any consequences for failure.  It simply does not make any sense that it is cheaper for me to fly to the continent than it is to take a modest train journey.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue Letter

The latest flare up in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict once again seems to put the intractability of this conflict on display.  What concerns me however is that interests groups  such as the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and Friends of Israel groups in this country seem to replicate the same adversarial rhetoric of the parties to the conflict.  Given the disastrous history of people being forcibly relocated to make others happy, it would stand to reason that a way for both Israeli's and Palestinians to live together in peace has to be found.  Surely the passion and energy of these groups would be better directed towards this vision?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: Monarchy and Tourism Letter

Katie Grant's column about the effect of the Royal Wedding only paid lip service to the other side of the argument about it being beneficial to the economy.  While it is all very well looking at the for and against parties, it is more telling looking at the figures from neutral bodies like the UN World Tourist Organisation.  Presently and for the past two years the countries that have lead us in terms of tourist numbers and earnings are all republics.  Germany earns nearly the same as us in terms of tourism and yet they have not had a monarchy for 100 years.  With all of this talk of earning at the behest of how tourists allegedly want us to be governed perhaps Katie Grant would have been better asking; how much is our dignity worth?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Your View: Brexit and Lords Reform

I have my doubts that Jeff Grubb was openly talking about 'revolution' in the context of the House of Lords, before it's recent Brexit vote.  This among other clear signs shows Brexiters superficial interest in democratic reform when it comes to the EU referendum.  I notice that while they speak about not letting foreigners dictate how we live, they are quite happy to keep the Monarchy for the sake of tourism.  I suggest Jeff Grubb reflects on the historical context of revolutions destroying institutions.  He may want to be careful for what he wishes for.

Regards

Zac Barker

Bristol

Your View: Jeremy Corbyn is Wrong Letter

Jeremy Corbyn's statements on foreign policy betray his commitment to Far Left extremism at the cost of filtering out the real world.  He states that he would never be in favour of any action in Syria without a UN mandate.  But since the reality is that Russia on the UN Security Council has vetoed anything to do with Syria, Corbyn is effectively confirming that veto.  He is also wrong to say that the UK has been wrong to be involved in any war since World War 2.  If he had his way there would have been many more dead in Sierra Leone, Kosovo and Malaya to name a few beneficial interventions.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Commonwealth as a trade bloc Letter

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown was right to question the wisdom of advocating the Commonwealth as a replacement trade bloc for the EU.  While there are arguably service sector gains to be made from free trade pacts with parts of the Commonwealth, gains in terms of imports and exports would be limited.  Geography would impose an extra cost on imports and exports with regards to markets in  Australia and even Canada for example.  A friend of mine who owns a haulage business put it well.  He claimed that it is a lot more useful for him to have free movement of goods and people to France than it would be to have the same to India.

Regards

Zac Barker

Bristol

Letter to the i: Putin's Russia

While Ian Birrell's column about Putin's Russia was largely correct he underestimated the scope of his "useful idiot" support in the UK.  To be more accurate, one group leans towards supporting Putin and the other toward appeasement of him.  The former consists of many Brexiters and the UKIP right who see him as challenging the EU liberal consensus.  The latter consist of many from the Corbyn left wing who see all warnings about Russia as potential warmongering.  War weariness from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have left us cynical to government warnings and apathetic about checking a determined great power out to sow discord. 

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the i: Disrespecting the Queen

Michael Pickett's letter accused a man who was wearing a baseball cap of being more disrespectful to the Queen than a woman in sunglasses.  Well I believe something else trumps even that level of disrespect. Specifically, the Queen keeping the position of Head of State as her family's personal property, without any electoral mandate to speak of.  Surely this disrespects the very democratic principles we are meant to stand for as a nation?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the i: Democracy in Africa

Ian Birrell's observation about the mood in Africa being like the Arab Spring seems as much cautionary as optimistic.  African democracy activists will have to learn to become more resilient and stand up for themselves.  The US is currently governed by a President who supports strongmen and is cutting US State Department support for democracy activists all over the world.  Our country is too immersed in picking fights with it's closest trading partners to help them.  Perhaps the best piece of advice we can give to Africans is to make sure their institutions and their civil societies are robust enough to keep their leaders in check.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the i: US Gun Rights

Yet again we have another sad and preventable US school shooting. I have become convinced that the US Second Amendment should only cover weapons that existed in the period in which it was written.  Surely single shot rifles or muskets would be adequate for personal defence?  The assault rifle used in this attack is adapted from a military platoon killing weapon.  Surely if you are so unpopular that you get attacked in such numbers, it would be advisable to work on your social skills?  Or maybe it is time to admit that the Second Amendment is less to do with self defence and more to do with boys and their toys?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Foreign Aid Spending

I concur with Matthew Norman's article concerning foreign aid spending.  However in this toxic environment for foreign aid spending it may be more effective to argue in favour of foreign aid to appeal to the concerns of it's opponents.  Most of the opponents of foreign aid are concerned about immigration and refugees.  It could be pointed out to them that if countries with struggling economies are given assistance, less of their countrymen may seek to come over here.  There is no sense in expressing altruistic arguments to those who are deaf to them.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Inconvenient Terrorists

It is no wonder the Home Secretary Amber Rudd is having trouble pardoning the convictions of Suffragettes.  Many of the actions they took in desperation to advance their cause can accurately be described as terrorism.  Such actions included arson and even an attempt to burn down former PM David Lloyd-George's house.  Maybe this would give us good cause to move away from the tired narrative of saying all "terrorists" are evil.  We should be frank that those who fight for their rights have some courage and should be respected.  While those who cause violence for it's own sake or to oppress others should be vilified.

Regards

Zachary Barker 

Letter to the I: Martial Arts in Schools

In answer to Peter Stephenson's letter about what is to be done about knife crime and children, I believe the answer lies with Martial Arts.  I believe that Martial Arts should be taught as an option instead of or alongside competitive sports in PE.  Martial Arts teaches self discipline which is incompatible with gang culture.  It also provides a unique way of allowing children to protect themselves without feeling the need to resort to carrying knives themselves.  Speaking from experience it allows children to develop the self esteem needed to face down physical bullying.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Modest Monarchies

I am sure that the Monarchy represents the best option in Mike Durran's humble opinion.  I find it curious that he mentions dictatorships under Presidents when we live in a continent of successful and prosperous republics.  Speaking of dictatorships, it seems the Windsors have a taste for having things named after them or made in their likeness too.  So many Stamps, theatres, Olympics Parks, hospitals, street names, schools, aircraft carriers, universities, portraits, hotel suites, statues, films, TV series, variety shows, pubs, pieces of Antarctica, islands, towns and cruise liners it would make a modest dictator blush.

Regards

Zac Barker

Letter to the I: Regime Change Denied

I would like to offer a polite correction to Cole Moreton's a column, concerning the coronation of the next British monarch.  With all due respect it is inaccurate to call this a "regime change" as he did since the British Monarchy would still continue if another coronation was to take place.  With regards to Moreton's slightly patronising presumption of "republican" opinion admiring the Queen, in the future it would be nice to be asked our opinion.  Since I am here I will tell him I for one do not.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Thomas Sankara Letter

In response to John Duffield's letter I would point out to him that not all socialist African leaders have been failures.  One notable success was the avowed Communist Thomas Sankara, the former leader of Burkina Faso.  While other African Communists impoverished their country, Sankara made it food self sufficient and gave it vital infrastructure.  He also launched a vaccination campaign that eliminated several infectious diseases.  He did all of this while cooperating with the private sector.  The capitalist leader who overthrew him lined his pockets with state funds.  Sankara's estate by contrast included a fridge, a modest house, a motorbike and the guitar on which he composed the country's current national anthem.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Letter to the I: The Problem with Boris

It seems counter-intuitive for Theresa May to be promoting more productivity in our economy while keeping a very unproductive Foreign Secretary in power.  It is clear from Boris's latest gaffe in this position, one of many, that he is under no pressure to work hard or even take it seriously.  This is demonstrative of how Brexit has poisoned our politics and frozen our foreign policy.  Because of this single issue May is obsessed with keeping key Brexiters in certain cabinet positions regardless of competence.  And so it is the leader of a party that apparently promotes meritocracy gives people jobs only on the basis of who they are.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Brexit: An Interview with a Lorry Driver

The issue of how Brexit will affect the British economy.  Much of the debate usually revolves around arguing over various economic facts and statistics. As such it can be all too easy to be drawn away from what happens on the ground level, specifically those that make a living via the EU.  In this blog entry, Ronan Doyle, a friend of mine and a self-employed lorry driver has volunteered to give his perspective on how the EU effects his daily livelihood in this short interview.

Please could you describe briefly what you do for a living?

I am a lorry driver. One of many. We are the blood cells of the country. Glance around you. Everything which you see, except the trees have arrived by road at some stage. Even the road.

How does the UK being in the EU make the practicalities of your job easier?

International road transport has grown enormously in the past fifty years. The EU has identified the need to connect industry with customers in a fast and efficient manner. This is to everyone's benefit and has been the backbone of our prosperity. Before the EU freight used to spend a lot of time hanging around at closed borders. If the border staff had gone home for the night, the driver would have to wait until morning to declare the goods and be allowed entry. The German system was particularly tricky. They had a 'tankshien' regulation which involved dipping the tank and paying import duty on the fuel (less the tankshien tickets issued on export for previous trips). The border opening times often conflicted with drivers hours regulations. Together with lots of currencies and poor roads the whole thing was very hard work. The EU has given us free movement for goods. We simply fill out a 'CMR' form in five minutes describing the freight and it is produced upon request alongside the driver's passport. The EU has also improved the road network through it's regional development fund. This has bought us fast access to our customers and created jobs. We can even crash safely with the EU vehicle safety regulations, then phone the boss to report the accident with our very cheap roaming tariff, thanks to the EU!

Post Brexit would it not be possible for the UK to come up with a practical customs/border arrangement similar to non-EU countries like Norway or Switzerland?

If we are to leave the customs union, a "Norway" deal is the best we can hope for. Norway bypasses the full four hour freight clearance in favour of a 10 minute partial pre-clearance which allows the freight to proceed. This sounds fantastic, but should be approached with caution. Whilst the Norwegian system takes 10 min's to clear, the queue to apply takes two hours. This is in rural Scandinavia. The problem in Dover/Calais would be magnified enormously. In this scenario I predict that passing the border would take all day (the law then puts you to bed for a further 11 hours before you may proceed) The M20 would probably be permanently on 'stack' daytime and be impassable. It would probably equalise during the night and build again from 6am every day. Lot's of extra parking will be required on both sides of the channel for drivers who are out of hours and industry and customers would suffer.

Do you feel that the French authorities in Calais give enough support to you to do your job?

The authorities in Calais do their best in a tricky situation. I personally hang back in Belgium to check and secure the vehicle. If I am not going to make it to England I stay where I am. Usually I get no problems. The flare up's which are seen on Youtube are not, in my experience typical of crossing the channel. The only problems which I have encountered was an attempted boarding by migrants in Caen. I found the French Gendarmerie to be both friendly and supportive. I firmly disagree with the UK's policy of handing out huge fines to hapless lorry drivers who are, after all, the victims of crime.

If Brexit proceeds on it's current course, what difficulties will your business face?

I'm not sure what the current course of Brexit is, but I don't feel bad. Neither does Theresa May. To her credit however she is fighting the horrendous possibility of "hard WTO Brexit" Leaving without a deal and full freight clearance will mean that after leaving the EU Friday night, the M20, M26 and M25 will likely be impassable by Monday lunchtime. Supermarket rdc's will be in tight supply by midweek, gaps will appear in supermarket shelves by Friday night. Rumour would get out about food shortage and panic buying would ensue. Those without the means to stock up on tinned food would literally be going hungry by week two! This sounds far-fetched but it is a very real possibility given the tight supply lines of 21'st century commercial practice. Then and only then will people see that you cannot eat blue passports.