The European Union has a history of failing to make concessions, thus bringing ruin upon itself
SIR – It seems that the most successful negotiations are those in which the apparently stronger party can afford to make the concessions and does so.
The EU’s failure to understand this, when David Cameron unsuccessfully pleaded for the relaxation of some rules, led directly to Brexit – with the huge loss of future long-term EU income from the United Kingdom.
If the EU made the same mistake again, it could eventually result in the end of the whole “project”. David McFetrich Poole, Dorset SIR – Your report (March 30) on the jubilation in the Commons on the triggering of the Article 50 process brings to mind the words of Sir Robert Walpole (underneath whose portrait Theresa May sat when signing her historic letter), when the bells rang in London on the declaration of war against Spain in 1739, of which he disapproved: “They may ring their bells now, before long they will be wringing their hands.” Bonar Law quoted the words on the ending of the Great War in November 1918. D R Thorpe Banbury, Oxfordshire SIR – Why are the media full of headlines such as “Battle lines are drawn”? We are entering negotiations for a peaceful withdrawal from the EU, not a war. Inflammatory statements will stir up resentment on both sides. Norman Allen Penn, Buckinghamshire SIR – Why is it that any point made by the British Government about the strength of our negotiating position is said to be a “threat” or “blackmail”, but any contrary assertion from inside the EU is depicted as an entirely reasonable expression of reality? Charles Wide Glapthorn, Northamptonshire SIR – Churchill had advice for most occasions. The EU negotiations are no exception: “Nothing is more costly, nothing is more sterile than revenge.”
He also said: “Difficulties mastered are opportunities won.” Carole Doggett Barton-on-sea, Hampshire SIR – The EU’s intrinsic contempt for democracy has been demonstrated by its repeated insistence on overturning referendums and by its appetite for self-harm (exemplified by the creation of the euro). Its intransigence was expressed by its unwillingness to renegotiate Britain’s membership terms with David Cameron.
It is hugely ironic that pro-Brexit politicians publicly exhibit unbounded confidence in Britain’s ability to secure a mutually advantageous trading relationship, while ardent anti-Brexit campaigners inadvertently confirm that the EU will willingly sacrifice its members’ long-term ability to trade freely with Britain for the sake of the EU’s short-term political survival.
As a hard-headed Leave supporter, I expect a protracted and ultimately unsuccessful negotiation that reconfirms the EU’s disdain for free trade and democracy – an outcome for which the British electorate will ultimately attribute responsibility to the EU, not the British Government. Philip Duly Haslemere, Surrey SIR – Along with the rest of the world, we are witnessing, and must understand, the extraordinary strength of someone who survived six years as home secretary to become Prime Minister. Peter T Blacker Dorchester, Dorset SIR – There are still 28 members of the EU and 28 tiles in a set of dominoes. How long before we experience the domino effect? Terry Ashton Wells, Somerset SIR – How about a Brexit-free Holy Week to give us the freedom to put our minds to more important matters? David Gray Corfe Mullen, Dorset SIR – You are rightly campaigning for EU regulations that hinder our economy to be identified and repealed.
However, our own bureaucrats and politicians seem to need no encouragement from Brussels to smother us in red tape.
The current Finance Bill is the longest yet, at 762 pages with 447 pages of explanatory notes. Nicholas Kirk Walton-on-Thames, Surrey SIR – One area in which the EU regulation has been disastrous is in energy-usage of domestic appliances. The EU wants to reduce kettles to 1kW in power, claiming it will save energy. It will not!
By using less power, the kettle will take significantly longer to boil the same amount of water. With greater heat loss during that longer period, the kettle will use more energy to boil the same amount of water than one with a more powerful element. Michael Perry Trowbridge, Wiltshire SIR – Sir Tim Barrow, Britain’s permanent representative to the EU, was photographed carrying the Prime Minister’s letter invoking Article 50 in a battered briefcase.
Why such a flagrant departure from today’s norm of carrying the letter openly and under his arm so that we could all read it during delivery? John Ley-Morgan Weston-super-Mare, Somerset