No-deal Brexit will hit where it hurts
■ IT’S sometimes said it is just the metropolitan elite against Brexit, but there are many ways poorer people benefit most from being in the EU.
In my opinion, political forces driving Brexit are the same ones pushing for damaging changes to benefits and resisting an increase in taxation to fund better public services. In addition to the severe funding cuts to local authorities from our Government, deprived areas will also lose the targeted EU financial support for poorer regions.
If we leave the EU I also expect a race towards lower environmental and food production standards and it’s always poorer people who suffer – the well-off have no problems buying expensive food.
Liz Sidebotham, Newcastle upon Tyne
■ I am fed up with the pontificating over Brexit and attempts by Remainers to overturn the democratic result of the referendum. Mrs May is doing her utmost to get a deal that is best for everyone and the country needs to get behind her. If this doesn’t work out, we should just walk away. Things might be a bit worse for a while but they will improve in time.
All this scaremongering about what will happen is not doing the country any good. We’re coming out whether the Remainers like it or not, so they must just accept it.
J Clarke, Doncaster
■ In response to Mike George (Your Voice, October 29), he is right, we do accept lies as part of general election campaigns, but after five years we have the power to vote again. The lies told in the run-up to the referendum could effect generations with no means to change it.
Also, in answer to Dave Smith (October 29), the war has been mentioned many times in relation to Brexit, mainly by older people.
Pride in our former wartime efforts is one thing, but it shouldn’t lead to entitlement – let’s not forget the EU was formed to stop world wars and has done just that. Darren Kendrick Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leics
■ I voted for Brexit in order to have border control, as I am sure many others did. The referendum was meant to be a democratic vote, so why is the Labour Party even contemplating membership of a modified customs union which would require us to accept free movement of people? That is not going to suit Labour voters who supported Brexit come the next general election.
DA Cudworth, Llanelli, Dyfed
■ If we end up having a second referendum, it should only be the under-55s who vote as it’s the younger generation that will suffer if it all goes wrong. The vote wasn’t about not liking David Cameron or the Germans, which seems the criteria some people voted on. Allan Johnson, Hitchin, Herts
■ By all means let’s have a second referendum, but it should have a proviso that unless there is a clear majority to stay in the EU, we leave, deal or no deal.
I suggest that the benchmark should be set at 65% and if that figure is not achieved then we leave. Surely then everyone will have to agree on the final decision?
Bill Beard, Birmingham