You need to accept the winner was democracy!

IENJOYED Alan Handler’s eloquent letter (Viewpoint, January 9) predicting a dark future for the UK because we have left the EU. Beautiful style but unfortunately long on rhetoric and short on facts. It was rather like Madame Zena’s predictions of my future when I had my palm read at the end of the pier. I am yet to meet my tall dark stranger; my bank account does not show I am a millionaire and although the clairvoyant found interruptions to my life line in my palms, I am healthy and still alive. In truth his letter is a rehash of the arguments used five years ago from those who wanted to remain in the EU. According to Mr Handler the ‘Leavers’ were told a lot of lies and were fools for voting against “being a full and supportive member of Europe’s noblest effort in collaboration, prosperity, liberty and peace.” Even if these aspirational words were set to Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’, the EU national anthem, I do not think it would become a favourite with the drinkers on karaoke night at the ‘Rose and Crown’. Maybe the sentiment of Sinatra’s “My Way’ would be more popular. Noble? The EU has turned into a protectionist club. Tariffs on trade if you are not a member (or now like the UK with a trade treaty ) and governed by an unaccountable bureaucracy whose motto seems to be ‘never do today something that can be postponed until tomorrow’. While we were able to vote for our MEPs, the European parliament has traditionally rubber stamped the diktats from an unelected elite. In reality there is a very serious democratic deficit at the heart of the EU. Oh, incidentally, we used to pay more than £10 billion (net) a year for the privilege of this largely unelected extra tier of government. If, in another five years’ time, Britain is suffering economically or socially as a direct result of our departure from the EU then ‘Remainers’ will be entitled to say “I told you so”. For the present, however, I plead to those who wish to remain subject to the EU to recognise that democracy has won and should be accepted with good grace.

It is of great disappointment that those who lost in fairly held elections or referendums like ‘Remainers’ or even Donald Trump, will not accept the results. Carping becomes tedious. Sour grapes won’t change the will of the people.