Make the UK a low-tax haven and attract business post-Brexit

I voted to Remain, largely because I did not think that UK elected representatives were any more economically literate that the unelected leaders of the EU.

But I grow tired of threats from Barnier, Juncker and co – the latest is that the UK will be locked out of Europe's policing and security databases after Brexit (also Galileo, and more).

Rather than kowtowing to the EU and going out of our way to find solutions they'll reject out of hand, why not make the UK the low-tax zone of Europe? Slash the corporation tax to 15 per cent, income tax maxed at 30 per cent, introduce tax breaks and state assistance for new businesses... the list could go on.

In short, attract the global business into Europe's second-largest, 65 million-strong economy. We'll probably have a recession, but we'll make it – because, like life... trade will find a way.

Darko Kapor
Edgware

Stop targeting people like me and hit the corporations

How to pay for the extra resources that the NHS needs? Higher taxes yes, but I am fed up with the older population being cited as the target. I'm a fit and healthy 74-year-old and have paid all of my taxes and NI contributions for 57 years, and will do so until my demise – why should I pay more when large corporations and rich people avoid paying theirs?

I've paid my dues.

Doug Flack
Derby

I want my own magic money Tree

Now we know for sure Theresa May does have a Magic Money Tree, taking some fruit for the DUP and now for the NHS. Unfortunately, those who are just about managing can't have their own tree – it is only available to governments.

Derek Thornhill
Gloucester

Why do we even need austerity now?

I am no economist, but as I understand it governments raise the money they need through taxation. Our government tells us that unemployment is very low so most people are in work and presumably paying the tax that is due, so why do we need austerity? Doesn't this mean that it is as good as it gets? Where else do they get the extra money from without raising tax?

Chris Elshaw
Address supplied

Please move Question Time to before bedtime

Concurrent to the discussion of a replacement for Question Time host David Dimbleby, could the BBC also consider an equally important issue of rescheduling the televising of this program, (currently after the 10pm news, when most self-respecting citizens are veering towards bedtime)? An intelligent, current affairs program deserves a prime-time viewing slot, equal to some of the more inane Have I Got News for You-type panel shows.

Henry Carlton
London, N14

The internet as we know it is under threat

This week the draft EU Copyright directive reaches a crucial stage with the Legal Affairs Committee of the European parliament voting on its content; we should be alarmed, because as it stands this law will break the internet as we know it, and will remain our law, when we leave the EU. Two articles are especially bad.

Article 11 will require anyone using snippets of journalistic online content to first get a (usually paid-for) license from the publisher. While this law is aimed at new media organisations, such as Google and Facebook, it will hit media monitoring groups, fact checkers and crucially, ordinary bloggers. Effectively, it will act as a tax on links, which are, of course, the very essence of the internet.

Article 13 will require internet platforms to take measures, such as the use of “effective content recognition technologies”, to prevent copyright infringement. This will hit freedom of expression, undermining legal use, such as parodies and memes.

It will also hit community projects, such as Wikipedia, and code-hosting sites which carry opensource software. The necessary surveillance software is likely to overreact blocking perfectly legal new content.

The freedom of the internet matters to us all; we must defend it.

Otto Inglis
Edinburgh

I’d rather pay to stay in the EU

In reply to J Longstaff’s conundrum (Letters, 18 June): I don’t look forward to living in a soulless post-Brexit country that turns its back on our neighbours, rejects compassion and arrogantly refuses to address world problems in a co-operative spirit. In fact, I’d pay £1000 year to avoid it.

Richard Greenwood
Bewdley