General Sun Tzu’s guide to the art of successful Brexit negotiations
SIR – As the military strategist Sun Tzu pointed out centuries ago, the best way to win a battle is for the enemy to decide not to fight because he believes that you are too strong. Conversely the best way to lose is to appear weak.
Theresa May seems intent on proving Sun Tzu’s views correct. At every turn in these Brexit negotiations she has appeared weak and undecided, inviting all and sundry in the EU to take pot shots at the United Kingdom.
We never respond in strength and lose every negotiating battle, fighting from the back foot. We have many strengths but Mrs May won’t use them.
Our security assets are vital to many EU countries. The City is also vital to many of the countries, which would suffer if they had to rely on Frankfurt or Paris. We have a very important market for EU goods; we can impose tariffs as well as the EU.
Equally, Ireland will pay a heavy price if we leave with a poor agreement or none.
Let us show our strengths and be prepared to use them. As Sun Tzu also pointed out, an equitable negotiated agreement is always better than battle. David James
Lower Chaddesley, Worcestershire
SIR – I think it only fair to remind Michel Barnier, the EU negotiator, that we have yet to take the cheque book out of the desk drawer. John Hodge
Brent Knoll, Somerset SIR – Please don’t be annoyed with those nice people that look after the EU. They are just trying to take care of us and take away our worries.
They do not want to break up the UK by annexing Northern Ireland as a gift to Ireland for its support. They would, however, be quite pleased if the present UK Government broke up, allowing them to annex the whole UK (as they really do need our money).
That would usefully get rid of a troublesome democracy that just keeps trying to spoil their fun. Brian Shaw
Poynton, Cheshire
SIR – A resolution of the Irish border question rests in Theresa May’s hands. We should follow a “Singapore model”, with no trade barriers to any country.
The British would enjoy lower day-to-day costs. We would not need to impose restrictions at the Irish border. (As the Republic is not in the Schengen area, we could remain content with its border controls.)
If Ireland (aka the EU) puts up controls on entry from Northern Ireland that would be its own choice. There would be only one party going against the Good Friday Agreement, and it wouldn’t be the UK. Paul Bowden
Bristol
SIR – Anyone who has crossed from France to Switzerland (which is not in a customs union with the EU) will know that a frictionless border is quite possible, given goodwill and common sense.
But it does not suit the EU in these “negotiations” to find solutions. It raises instead the spectre of a breakdown of the Good Friday Agreement and renewed Troubles. This thinly veiled threat of violence makes the EU proxy terrorists.
Until the EU demonstrates goodwill and seeks solutions rather than obstructions, we should withdraw from negotiations. Nigel Cowan
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
SIR – Sir John Major, the prime minister who did not trust me to have a say on the Maastricht Treaty, now disdains my decision to leave the EU.
No doubt his successor Tony Blair, who misled me into an illegal war, will now try to ramp up Operation Fear. Tom Jones
Great Sankey, Cheshire
SIR – Is this the same John Major who took us into the European Exchange Rate Mechanism with such dire consequences for the UK economy? Keith Mary
Camber, East Sussex
SIR – How is it that failed former prime ministers have the answers to all our problems once they are out of office? Tim Lalonde
Lower Langford, Somerset