MS support

More than 130,000 people live with MS and another 145,000 with Parkinson’s in the UK, and many rely on services like physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and exercise classes to stay active, manage their condition and do the everyday things many others take for granted.

Readers can help by asking local health leaders to pledge their support for better access to rehabilitation for people with neurological conditions like MS. For more information, visit https://www.mssociety.org.uk/local-health.

Peter Miller, address withheld

EU promise

Last week saw the Prime Minister’s self-imposed deadline to secure a trade deal with Europe come and go. We were all promised a comprehensive deal with Europe – I believe there is still time to deliver that promise. As the second wave of COVID begins, it’s never been more crucial to reach a recovery-boosting deal with Europe.

Polling by Best for Britain shows four fifths of people in the South East of England have already noticed job losses and business closures in their community – something I’ve seen as well.

A recent report by the same organises the countless professions, products and industries will be severely impacted from day one of a no deal exit.

To leave the transition period with no plan and no deal would be disastrous in this climate.

Last week also saw the passing of the Agricultural Bill, without the amendments intended to protect our food standards and our farmers. It was a stark reminder that the best guarantee of our high standards is to trade with an ally who shares them.

Abandoning trade with our closest neighbour without a plan in place would compound our already vulnerable position.

This is not an abstract matter of diplomacy and trade – our lives and our livelihoods are on the line. Let’s pursue a recovery-boosting deal, which lets us work with Europe to recover from COVID and keep our standards high.

Nigel & Valerie Wilkinson, Reading