Brexit: not just trade

SIR – Jacob Rees-mogg (Comment, March 19) says that on leaving the EU we must be able to negotiate and sign our own trade deals. He adds that our trade minister must be able to respond to the threat of increased tariffs from other nations, as suits Britain’s interests and not the EU’S. In short, Britain has to decide if it is a joke nation or one to be taken seriously.

I believe it is much more fundamental than this. We have to decide if we are once again to become a fully independent nation at all, or to continue to let 27 other nations determine our laws and regulations.

Much of the establishment still appears to be happy with the abdication of its responsibilities in favour of Brussels, but the Government must never forget that 17.4million people voted unequivocally to reclaim this nation’s independence. Anything less will be a betrayal of the referendum result. Eddie Hooper

Gravesend, Kent

SIR – It was typical of shallow pro-remain propaganda to claim that an extra minute or so of border processing time at Dover per lorry crossing to Europe would cause a traffic jam stretching to London.

The claim ignores the simple fact that adding extra staff or other resources for necessary checks in peak traffic periods enables more vehicles to be processed per minute, cancelling out the threat of a longer tailback.

I have spent less border processing time per trip crossing between the United States and Canada than I have crossing between Britain and France.

The case for Remain or Leave must be made on the basis of serious issues, including political factors. Shallow and incomplete research of administrative issues is not helpful. Brian Newton

Epsom, Surrey