Other EU countries do not feel weakened by minority government
sir – In the general election held in the Netherlands on March 15, Mark Rutte, the prime minister, secured 21 per cent of the vote and continues to negotiate with potential partners in order to form a coalition with a parliamentary majority. He is hopeful of agreement by the summer. In the meantime, government business continues.
In Britain the Conservatives, who gained 43 per cent of the vote on June 8, have been in negotiations with the DUP to secure a safe parliamentary majority.
Meanwhile the merchants of doom and gloom are busy. John Cunningham
Finmere, Oxfordshire
sir – Since 20 of the 27 remaining nations in the EU are run by coalition governments, why cannot it be successful in the United Kingdom? Richard England Davies
Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire
sir – As I understand it:
1 In the June 2016 referendum, 52 per cent of the British people who voted signified their wish to leave the European Union.
2 Leaving the European Union means leaving the single market and the customs union.
3 In May 2017 the Conservative Party promised in its manifesto that it would implement the expressed will of the British people.
4 In May 2017 the Labour Party was compelled for the first time to state its position. It knew that the voters it wished to attract from Ukip and the Conservatives would only vote for it if it promised to end uncontrolled immigration from the EU, which means leaving the single market.
5 It stated its position. It confirmed that it too would ensure that the United Kingdom would leave the European Union, which means leaving the single market and customs union. 6 The combined share of the votes of the Conservative Party and the Labour Party at the general election was 89 per cent.
How would Theresa May (or any other British prime minister) be giving expression to the will of the British people if the deal she secured with the EU did not include leaving the single market and the customs union?
The result of the general election enables her to tell her opposite numbers in Brussels that 52 per cent has just become 89 per cent. John Kingston
Cobham, Surrey
sir – If the Government is forced to water down Brexit – to stay in the customs union, have full access to the single market and abide by the free movement of people – then there is no point in leaving the EU.
If we stay in the customs union, we are unlikely to be able to make trade agreements with non-eu countries, which is one of the key benefits of leaving the EU.
If we have no control over our borders, we are facing the same problems that led to Brexit: too much pressure on our resources, including the NHS, education, transport and housing. Marcia Macleod
London NW6
sir – Philip Hammond should follow the example of Lord Bridges of Headley, who resigned as a minister at the weekend.
No wonder the Prime Minister refused to endorse Mr Hammond as Chancellor during the election campaign. As soon as it is over he opposes the Government’s Brexit policy. Professor Alan Sked
London School of Economics London WC2
sir – If Theresa May can so impress the 1922 Committee and show she has taken on board the criticism following the election debacle, perhaps it would do her no harm to finally appear on the 8.10am slot on the Today programme to show the country that she’s no longer running scared and is the leader we need in this time of uncertainty. Julian C Andrew
Loughborough, Leicestershire sir – I am constantly astonished that Jeremy Corbyn’s socialist philosophy approves of expecting blue-collar workers on average wages to pay for the higher education of their fellow citizens.
What on earth is wrong with the present loan system, where those with a higher education who do not manage to hold down highly paid jobs are not expected to repay anything at all?
Surely those who have become high achievers as a result of their higher education must feel under some sort of obligation to repay the loan that has helped them to this fortunate position.
GM E Barber
Sudbury, Suffolk
sir – During the election campaign Jeremy Corbyn was reported to have cited Venezuela as an economic model that was governed – by Hugo Chavez and then his successor – for the benefit of all sections of society.
On Tuesday the BBC showed distressing pictures of the economic chaos gripping the country, with unemployment rife and many children showing signs of malnutrition.
The Venezuelan government tries to block any reporting from within the country.
A grim foretaste of the future of this country under Mr Corbyn? Hugh Foster
Farnborough, Hampshire
sir – I was delighted to see in the Letters columns (June 13) the election poster for 1929 with its message: “The Socialist Idol. Don’t feed the idol – smash it. Vote Conservative.”
The poster was designed by my father, Victor Hicks, who was very successful as a commercial artist in the Twenties and Thirties.
It is to be regretted that the poster failed to help prevent a hung parliament that year, followed by a Labour government.
“Don’t feed the idol – smash it.” Good luck to Theresa May, our best hope.
Wg Cdr Peter Hicks
Talmine, Sutherland