Peter Askham (Letters, October 17) wants to blame foreigners (the EU and immigration) for Britain’s economic woes and cites Switzerland and Norway as examples of prosperous non-EU countries.
What he doesn’t seem to know is that 23 per cent of Switzerland’s population are foreigners and that Sweden and Denmark, which enjoy similar levels of prosperity to Norway, are both EU countries.
The reason that most Norwegians are better off has nothing to do with EU membership and everything to do with the fact that it is a genuine social democracy.
It is a more equal society with much higher taxes and generous social welfare benefits. As for that sovereign wealth fund, Norway invested its North Sea oil revenues in schools, hospitals and transport infrastructure.
The UK, under the sainted Thatcher, gave it away in tax cuts for the wealthy and unemployment benefits to the millions who lost their jobs during the wholesale closure of manufacturing in the 1980s.
Mr Askham should stop blaming others for our troubles and look a bit nearer home.
Patrick Kelly, East Mount Road, York.
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