V MONTAGUE, of Aune Cross, Bantham, writes:

Richard Haddock’s opinion piece last week follows an unfortunate trend in the ‘leave’ camp of aiming gratuitous insults at our European neighbours.

Any serious study of post- war 20th century history indicates what a fantastic job the European nations did in reconstructing war-torn Europe.

The problems presented included cities devastated by bombing; land which had been fought over and littered with the debris of war; food storages ‘producing wide spread hunger and sometimes starvation; shattered economies and a migrant or displaced persons problem far worse than that of today.

The ‘donkey’ and ‘racehorses’ as Mr Haddock describes them came together in a spirit of co-operation and reconciliation between foes to build a peaceful, democratic association of diverse nations which has persisted for decades despite respect not abuse!

During this time, successive UK governments succeeded in maintaining industrial strife between employees and management right up to the present day; an underfunded health service; an education sector in constant turmoil; and an agriculture system dependent on subsidy and still managing to put biodiversity in the countryside into freefall.

Today we have little affordable housing for the rising generation, large numbers of whom are up to their eyes in student debt, for which, in the long run, taxpayers will have to repay a large part.

In short, our woes today, stem mainly from political incompetence of successive UK government – not the EU nor migrants.

We have also had much of our ‘sovereignty’ given away in bucket loads to tax-dodging multinationals who treat our laws with contempt.

Any thought that withdrawal from the EU will substantially reduce our current problems is pie in the sky. It could mean that fewer countries worldwise would be interested.

As a footnote: On a recent Saturday I was carrying two crates of unsold produce back to my car at the far end of the Quay car park in Kingsbridge. A young man, seeing me struggling a bit, insisted on carrying one of the crates. He turned out to be a Romanian working in a local hotel.

I have met a number of young Europeans, who, despite working in low-paid jobs, have invariably been polite, kindly, and helpful. They, presumably, would be excluded by a points scheme.

I hope their employers will vote firmly for ‘remain’.