If Brexit negotiations fail, the big risk comes from staying in the EU
SIR – Remainers are understandably averse to any avoidable economic downturn, no matter how short.
However, they seem to pay little attention to the known risks of remaining inside the EU. As made clear by Jean-claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, echoed by President Emmanuel Macron of France, the EU’S answer to the many flaws in its political and economic model is for “more Europe” – which translates as more centralisation of powers and ever greater “harmonisation” across the board.
Britain would find it increasingly difficult to remain in the EU without adopting the euro. As we relinquished control of our affairs, so the City would be dismantled piece by piece as we submitted to the agendas of France and Germany.
Does the Remain side believe that, in the long term, our interests are best served by remaining in an evolving federal bureaucracy or as an independent, agile, free-trading nation? It’s time we looked further ahead than next month’s economic data and considered what the basis of our future prosperity is most likely to be.
Rupert Grant
Kingsbridge, Devon
SIR – It was easy to foresee that entrusting implementation of the decision to leave the EU to a Remainer would result in us remaining.
Brian Gilbert
Hampton, Middlesex
SIR – The 27 EU countries demand a financial settlement to be agreed before any negotiations on future trade with Britain. It is unwise for Britain to agree to any such sum before trade between us is agreed and the expenditure judged affordable.
It strikes me that the EU demand is so unreasonable that it contravenes Britons’ collective human rights.
Martyn Lucking
Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
SIR – Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is short, very well written in plain English, and appears unambiguous in its meaning. Paragraph 2 contains the clause: “The Union shall negotiate and conclude an agreement with that state, setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union.”
EU insistence that negotiations on the “divorce settlement” must precede discussions on trade does not seem to me to comply with Article 50.
I propose that Britain should inform the EU negotiators that it will ask the European Court of Justice for a ruling on this, unless trade talks start now. The compensation payable to Britain for a ruling in its favour might dwarf any bill for a divorce settlement.
Andrew Waterfield
Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire
SIR – If I had any faith that our politicians are capable of standing up to the EU I would not have voted to leave in the first place.
Stephen Farrington
Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire