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The Prime Minister has no idea what free markets have done to this country

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Thursday 28 September 2017 16:37 BST
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Theresa May defended capitalism after Corbyn's conference speech
Theresa May defended capitalism after Corbyn's conference speech

Theresa May’s rebuttal of Jeremy Corbyn’s conference speech was to say that “[A free market economy] is unquestionably the best, and indeed the only sustainable, means of increasing the living standards of everyone in a country”.

Leaving aside the rather obvious fact that in 2008 the actions of the free market economy made a great many people on both sides of the Atlantic worse off, a refusal to limit ever-continuing economic growth, will result in ever-continuing environmental degradation. That is not my definition of “sustainable”.

Patrick Cosgrove
Bucknell

The Prime Minister has lauded the benefits that come from free markets. Their successful operation in Britain can be clearly seen.

We have some of the best food banks in the world that now serve more people than ever before.

Ashley Herbert
Huddersfield

Adoption can be a joy for so many

I read with a saddened heart May Bulman’s article about adoption and the statistics surrounding the mental and emotional well-being of adopted children.

As someone who is in the final stages of adopting a wonderful little child, I found myself questioning the wealth of training I’ve received, including in-depth insights into attachment and early years development, heritage, identity, learning difficulties, security, mental and physical health of children in care.

I have considered carefully every possibility that we might face as a family on the future with this child, far more so than my friends with their own biological children (they would be the first to agree). As a teacher, I understand the complexities and strategic nurturing needed for children with ADHD, autism and social and behavioural difficulties. Yet it only ever seems to be that these issues are highlighted statistically with cared for children.

Since 2015 every adopted child has up to £5,000 available for counselling services, theraplay, psychotherapy and other therapeutic services every year. Hopefully more adopting families will draw on this fund to support them as their child grows.

I would love so dearly to read one article, just once about the joy, hope and promise that adoption brings to so many forever families. I would not wish for the issue to be sugar coated with icing, but for all sides and experiences to be represented fairly. Instead of providing these children with all that they deserve, you may find a paper that I usually enjoy greatly contributing to the decline of adoption and the hope of permanent, loving and nurturing homes.

Name and address supplied

The West should support Kurdish independence

In an ideal world there would be no nationalism. We would be inclusive and equally generous to everyone irrespective of nationality, ethnicity, religion, wealth, education, gender, sexual orientation, age, culture etc. Until then we are stuck with political units that pursue the selfish interests of a particular population at the expense of others. Nation states are prone to civil wars if they oppress part of their population, based on factors such as ethnicity, religion or wealth.

Pragmatically it is better, as a compromise, to try and align nations with populations to avoid minorities that might be oppressed rather than engage in wishful thinking that they will be treated fairly.

It therefore puzzles me why the West opposes such realignment in Kurdistan and Crimea. Lines on a map and the aspirations of politicians are not a sound basis for national borders.

Jon Hawksley
London

The young will miss out on the opportunities baby boomers enjoyed

In Mr Johnson’s letter (Yes, we voted to leave the EU – but I don’t recall voting to leave the EEC) he describes how when the country went into the EEC it made it much easier for him to travel between member states when he was a young, upcoming businessman and how he was desperate to have an opportunity to sell his wares to the European market.

I appreciate that in the intervening years the EU has been formed and extended its remit. However, did anybody of his generation think about the way that their ballot may have been interpreted by those hell-bent on leaving the EU at any cost? What of the detrimental effect on people who will be 30 in 2019 when we leave the EU, who it looks increasingly likely will lose yet another opportunity enjoyed by his generation?

Iain Rowlands
Address supplied

The US has no special trade deals for us

So is the import tariff on Bombardier aircraft by the US part of the “very big and exciting” trade deal Trump has promised the UK Government? At least he’s sticking to his “America first” mantra.

Once again, the Prime Minister is bitterly disappointed. I suspect future “special” deals with the US will continue to disappoint her.

N Priestley
Lancaster

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