The Government risks deep disillusionment with this costly Brexit delay
SIR – In negotiations, one should not blink first. That is what the Government has now done. Britain is effectively begging to stay in the EU for at least another two years, having given up our voting rights.
The extra £20 billion or so that UK taxpayers will have to pay will be added to the £484 billion we have already contributed since 1973. We will continue running a trade deficit of £60 billion a year with the rest of the EU, and the protectionist common external tariff will raise the weekly shopping bills of those who are “just about managing”.
The British people are likely to be deeply disillusioned to find that we are still effectively members of the EU some five or more years after they voted to leave. Barry Legg
Chairman, The Bruges Group London SW1
SIR – Fraser Nelson (Comment, September 22) is absolutely correct that “an ever-closer union of peoples can continue” even as Britain prepares to leave the EU.
In July this year we delivered recommendations to EU and British negotiators after consulting with more than 450 educational, cultural and scientific organisations and representatives from 30 European countries. These recommendations included upholding the guarantees for EU nationals in Britain and vice versa, as well as a commitment to continue participating in collaborative endeavours in science, education and arts, in particular Horizon 2020, Erasmus+ and Creative Europe.
A commitment to such projects would be vital proof that Britain is leaving the EU, but not Europe. Sir Ciarán Devane
Chief Executive, The British Council London SW1
SIR – Allister Heath (Comment, September 21) is right that we need a completely new Brexit hit squad.
I fear that the Department for Exiting the EU is largely populated by bright young things with PPE or Law degrees. Few, if any, will have practical experience of commerce, particularly manufacturing and other “hard” businesses.
We need experienced people to assist with determining our Brexit goals. Many retired people throughout the country are available on short- or medium-term contracts and have the appropriate life skills, experience and knowledge to assist with this process. Let’s use them. David M Owen
West Kirby, Wirral
SIR – I sympathise with Pat Taylor (Letters, September 22) on wanting a device that automatically turns her radio off to enable her to avoid having to listen to continuous news on Brexit.
I am deaf and use headphones for the TV, which I can discard and replace according to the subject matter. It is only fair that deaf folk have some advantages. Christopher Cox
Warnham, West Sussex