If we want democracy, is Brexit the only answer?

DOMINIC LAWSON is wrong to believe that democratic self-government must mean Brexit — it doesn’t. In 40 years of voting, I’ve sometimes elected a representative and sometimes I haven’t. Yes, I always vote, but I get what I want only half the time. And even when my vote is on the winning side, my MP does what I hoped he or she would do maybe only half the time. I work alongside Europeans as we can now access a 300 million-strong talent pool. As I sit in my German car, I reflect that I drink French wine and English beer, buy British and European goods and watch British and European football players. That’s why I trade what I know for what I don’t and can’t take much comfort from the concept of abstract ‘sovereignty’. I believe the United States of America had one or two teething problems along the way, and I have little doubt that Europe will be formidable in 50 years’ time. I don’t want to short-change my children and grandchildren just because we haven’t yet learned how to manage immigration.

CLIVE LEWIS, Maidenhead, Berks. It mIght not be readily apparent, but our country great Britain is, and has been, for more than 1,000 years, an independent sovereign nation. And it’s the job of our political parties to run our country for our benefit. It isn’t up to Brussels to tell us what to do. If mPs and mSPs don’t trust their fellow citizens, they shouldn’t be standing for office. All political parties were told 56 years ago that by failing to involve the youth of our country, they would be heading for trouble. If the parties don’t make the decisions, the voters will do it for them.

C. J. R. FENTIMAN, Edinburgh.