The intrusive EU state
SIR – I share Juliet Samuel’s view (Comment, July 31) that what she calls the Centrists are, in many ways, the most arrogant of the “stop Brexit” types, dismissing Brexiteers as morons or racists ignorant and suspicious of other European cultures.
I voted for continued membership of the Common Market in 1975. I liked Europe, liked to drink wine and, as an economist, believed in free trade.
I still do. But I subsequently worked in Italy for several years and then in France. My experiences made me change my mind, based mainly on their systems of government being radically different from ours, imposing a far greater degree of state control over the lives of their citizens.
In case the Centrists are tempted to dismiss this as of minor concern, let me quote a few examples of how the state can intrude in those countries:
1. Fiscal police opening personal correspondence;
2. Local tax collectors extracting money from a personal bank account without permission;
3. Closing down a business to enable tax police to examine financial records;
4. Requiring new businesses to fulfil lengthy registration procedures before they can start operating.
These are symptomatic of the type of regime which the EU, dominated by continental European countries, will impose as the union becomes ever more political.
Peter Rusby
Stockbridge, Hampshire
SIR – Following his advice to the Prime Minister earlier in the year to call a general election (Comment, March 6), William Hague now supports Philip Hammond’s doctrine of fudge and delay over Brexit (Comment, August 1).
Instead of debating whether a transition period should be 12, 24, or 36 months, ministers should concentrate on delivering practical arrangements for the great future that awaits Britain once it is again an independent self-governing country. Any transition period must be enough for new procedures to be put in place, but as short as possible, in order to limit uncertainty, particularly for business. We’ve already wasted a year.
Britain has a very strong negotiating position and should tell the EU that the “clock is ticking” if it wishes to ensure any continued financial support from us. Otherwise the £40billion we may be prepared to offer as exit charges will be usefully deployed elsewhere.
John Sharp
Great Glen, Leicestershire