UK must not be bullied by EU

Sir, – Many very brave Irish people fought and died to gain their independence from Britain and they finally got what they wanted in 1922 when the Irish Free State (which many years later renamed itself “Ireland”) was formalised.

However, Irish independence comes at a cost and part of that cost is, after Brexit, people living in – or visiting – the Republic of Ireland (ROI) should have absolutely no right whatsoever to just enter or leave the UK any time they please and as often as they please without having to face any kind of border checks.

Fact is citizens of ROI voted to become a member of the EU – they did so of their own free will and, therefore, the ROI should be treated by the UK in the same way as any other EU state after Brexit.

In other words there absolutely has to be a hard border between Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK) and ROI after Brexit, whether ROI and the EU likes it or not.

I know that millions of people have travelled freely without interruption between the north and south of Ireland for many years – but Brexit is a game changer and Irish people can no longer have it both ways; they cannot realistically expect to be independent from the UK but still be able to enter and leave the UK as often as they please without any border checks – and vice-versa.

That is tough luck on those who work in the north and live in the south of Ireland – and vice-versa; they may have to look for more local employment after Brexit. So be it.

Seems to me the UK Government is desperately trying to negotiate an honourable exit from the EU but the Irish Government and Jean-Claude Juncker are trying their utmost to blackmail and bully our sovereign state into accepting a deal that seeks to hold the UK to ransom.

They are very clearly – and shamelessly – trying to extort money from the UK.

Meanwhile, many UK politicians are trying to force a second referendum so as to reverse the democratically obtained vote to leave the EU.

Personally I think Brexit should go ahead with no deal at all – as the UK should never allow ourselves to be blackmailed or bullied by any person or body.

I also think we should then have a general election called immediately after Brexit. Kenneth Brannan. 42 Greenlee Drive, Dundee.