WITH reference to recent correspondence with regard to Northern Ireland, I've had the privilege recently, on a university course, of meeting and working with young people from that nation.

I learnt a lot from our conversations and realised that I, along with, I suspect, most mainland British people, know very little of the realities of life there, our media generally ignoring them and their issues.

The United Kingdom Government is, in theory at least, meant to serve them too, although you wouldn't know it with its recent actions.

Two key elements of their peace process are now under threat, following two decades of hard work, and we should be rightly ashamed of our government's role in that.

The open border between the North and the South of Ireland, and the free movement of people and goods across that border, must be maintained post Brexit and the United Kingdom Government should have that as a priority in its negotiations.

No United Kingdom Government, of any political persuasion, should ever formally take sides in Northern Ireland and I do consider with the current proposed coalition with the Democratic Unionist Party the people of that nation are being sold down the river out of pure political expediency.

It is an absolute and disgusting abomination, and I am ashamed by the actions of our Government — not in my name, Theresa May, not in my name.

Dave Carter

Campbell Street

Farnworth