We need to face up to reality

To misquote the Bard, ‘Methinks they do protest too much’ [Letters, June 18]. As an apprentice, who went from the factory floor to become an engineer working on the American Space programme to the moon, my reason for suggesting an extension of the Brexit deadline is purely practical. At a time when we are facing the worst economic decline in recorded history it would seem sensible to maintain existing trade relationships and not add to the confusion. True, while working in the USA with engineers from many other European countries, I found I had far more in common with them than I had previously realised, particularly as we all now spoke a common language, American English! Severing ties with the EU will probably just hasten our decline as a world power, but from a practical viewpoint at least it will remove another excuse for this happening and perhaps help us to face up to reality!

The problem we have in this country is given in the ‘Seven Ages of Britain’ summary, in last week’s Radio Times. The third episode, ‘The Ages of Power’ states: ‘The 100 years from the accession of Henry VIII to the first performance of Shakespeare’s Henry VIII saw the creation of an enduring myth, England as God’s chosen nation’. It just goes to show how relevant history is in shaping a country’s destiny and why countries like Scotland and Northern Ireland, do not share the same view as us on union with Europe.

Mike Armstrong

Queens Avenue, Canterbury

■ It was good to read the letters complaining about Remainers again.

I always enjoy reading them. I, along with a number of colleagues believe that, whatever the consequences, the UK should have asked for an extension. The reason is that this is an election year in the USA and looking at the way Trump is acting, there is no cast iron guarantee that he will be President again.

To me, it would make more sense to negotiate a trade deal with whoever will be the next president. If this is not Trump, there will nothing to stop a new president tearing up any agreement, particularly if he thinks he cannot get it through Congress.

John Redwood

St Stephens Hill, Canterbury