EU threats to withhold Britain’s rebate demand a strong response

SIR – The EU’S threat to withhold the final payment of the rebate that was negotiated for Britain by Margaret Thatcher (report, November 18) is a threat too far.

The EU appears to treat the British sense of fair play as a weakness to be exploited. If it does not start behaving properly, Theresa May should threaten to stop our payments.

It worked for Mrs Thatcher, and it would work for Mrs May. For far too long the EU bullies have delighted in undermining our Prime Minister, and this must stop.

Margate, Kent

SIR – Not only must we make it clear that the EU’S latest threat is totally unacceptable, but we should also be reclaiming at least 10 years’ worth of lost rebate payments, which Tony Blair gave away in return for a reformed Common Agricultural Policy that the EU has never delivered.

Theydon Bois, Essex SIR – I voted to leave the EU. To me, that meant returning to the way Britain was governed before joining.

The possibility that this country will still be subject to the European Court of Justice, discussed by Charles Moore (Comment, November 18), appals me.

Here we are, nearly one and a half years after the Brexit vote, and our leaders are still being subservient to the EU.

It appears that many of our representatives, while paying lip-service to the vote, are gradually watering down what the result means, stretching out the leaving process and granting concessions little by little in the hope that no one will notice.

Someone with backbone is needed to tell the EU that enough is enough. David Davis was rejected as a leader of the Conservative Party a few years ago and is certainly proving not to be the man to drive our exit.

Newport, Pembrokeshire SIR – I wish I could believe the letter (November 16) written by several of my colleagues who are threatening to vote against setting a date on Brexit.

Their argument is that such a move would make last-minute negotiations unachievable.

It is clear to me that two parties who wish to negotiate constructively could easily have something in place by the end of March 2019. It is also clear to me that the current negotiations are totally one-sided, with EU intransigence making any meaningful progress almost impossible.

The EU does not want us to leave. Uncertainty (a word used constantly by those who want us to remain) is the best weapon it has to create division.

We voted to leave the EU in its entirety. To claim otherwise is being disingenuous. Yes, there are legal points to be examined while we debate the EU Withdrawal Bill, but the nature of many of the amendments laid before the Commons would indicate another purpose entirely.

Richard Drax MP (Con)

London SW1