The irony of Jeremy Hunt's call for Britain to be more like Singapore
SIR – Jeremy Hunt suggests that, in response to Donald Trump's tariffs, Sir Keir Starmer should embrace Brexit freedoms and turn Britain into Singapore-on-Thames (Commentary, April 4).
Why did this not happen when his party was in power, and he was chancellor? We might all be better off now had the Tories offered lower taxes and less regulation – in other words, real Conservative policies.
Felicity Guille
London SW6
SIR – Mark Carney appears to have undergone a Damascene conversion to the benefits of sovereignty, and now we have Jeremy Hunt – a fellow member of Project Fear – promoting the idea of Singapore-on-Thames.
In the same edition, on your Letters page, Nicholas Bevington (ironically writing from Singapore to criticise Brexit) reminds us that 42 per cent of our exports go to the EU, and 15 per cent to the US. Not a bad outcome, given the dire predictions in 2016.
Mark Robbins
Bruton, Somerset
SIR – How many times have we heard from government ministers in recent days that Britain's response to American tariffs will be 'pragmatic' and 'in the national interest'?
If only the Government would take the same approach to its energy policy, and abandon the measures that have been responsible for pushing up prices. That might help our industries remain competitive.
Michael Hodgson
Petersfield, Hampshire
SIR – How can President Trump expect Nato countries to increase their defence budgets to 5 per cent of GDP if he undermines the stability of European economies through his tariffs?
Harry Wells
Andover, Hampshire
SIR– I don't understand the criticism of President Trump's tactical tariffs, given that so many nations have had protectionist policies for decades.
Should America instead simply sacrifice itself to those who want an unearned advantage in the global marketplace?
D S A Murray
Dorking, Surrey
SIR – I can't help noticing that many of those who backed the recent tractor protests in Westminster are now suggesting that we allow chlorine-washed chickens over the Atlantic. How will that help British farmers? And all in the name of soothing one ego across the pond.
Nigel Parkin
Grantham, Lincolnshire
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