The row over Gibraltar is typical of the EU bargaining mentality, and there’s more to come

SIR – The Gibraltar issue typifies EU decision-making, Matters are not decided on their individual merits but as unrelated bargaining chips (we will vote for an EU army if you will vote to subsidise our olive groves).

Unfortunately, we can expect much more of this over the next two years. Mac Fearnehough Holmesfield, Derbyshire SIR – It is a fine example of EU logic, which supports the alienation of a British territory to Spain, against the expressed wishes of its inhabitants, while denying the Catalans the independence they seek. Tony Jones London SW7 SIR – Should we not invite Catalonia to become a British overseas territory? George Brown Stretford, Manchester SIR – We should start talking to Spain about handing over Gibraltar. A good time to start would be 24 hours after Spain returns its enclave at Ceuta to the Moroccan government. Philip Saunders Bungay, Suffolk SIR – Is it not the ideal time to follow the long-standing example of France and declare our 14 overseas territories part of the UK, with representation in Parliament? Gibraltar could be given an MP of its own. Max Sawyer Stamford, Lincolnshire SIR – During all the years that Britain has been a member of the EU, our “seat at the negotiating table” has been worthless. EU laws and regulations that are against our interests have been enacted and our representatives have been powerless to stop them. By walking away from that negotiating table, we lose absolutely no influence. Frank Tomlin Billericay, Essex SIR – The EU thinks Theresa May is bluffing about walking away with no Brexit deal. It plans to spend nearly two years arguing the “divorce bill” and retention of its red tape, before offering an unacceptable trade deal.

We should forego the negotiations, leave immediately under WTO rules, save two years of membership fees and start trade deals now with the rest of the world.

We will benefit from the net extra tariffs that we receive because of our £68 billion trade deficit. The devaluation of the pound will cover the tariffs paid by our exporters and EU exporters’ prices will be hit by both the tariffs and our devaluation. The volume of our export would be maintained and our imports reduced because of the maintenance of our export prices at the levels in place before June 23 and the increase of import prices. Lionel Steele Balsall Common, Warwickshire SIR – I buy most foreign goods under WTO rules. What’s the problem? Hugh Ellwood Lytham St Annes, Lancashire SIR – At present Britain contributes to (or benefits from) the basket of tariffs and quotas that WTO has established for the EU as a whole.

Extracting “our” share from that basket will be complicated and contentious.

And WTO rules do not cover financial services, insurance and other service industries. Chris Perry Instow, Devon SIR – It is unlikely that the picture on your Letters page on Friday was of Sir Robert Walpole addressing his cabinet, because one of the individuals depicted is a bishop, dressed in episcopal robes.

After John Robinson, when Bishop of Bristol, ceased to be Lord Privy Seal in 1713 (before Walpole formed a government), no bishop ever held an office of state, right up to this century.

The meeting portrayed may be of the Privy Council, a body to which bishops are still admitted. CD C Armstrong Belfast