It takes the US ambassador to urge Britain to post-brexit optimism

SIR – It is tragic and ironic that it takes the United States ambassador (report, June 22) to urge this country to be optimistic about the future after Brexit.

Why aren’t our ministers talking up the opportunities after Brexit, and why aren’t Leave groups organising supportive campaigns and marches, instead of leaving it to the wellorganised anti-brexit campaigning groups to dominate the debate? Jena Pearson

Garstang, Lancashire

SIR – It is an indication of how poorly our Government is dealing with Brexit that our closest ally feels it necessary to tell it to “stop being defeatist” about it.

Now imagine how the British people feel, to have to sit and watch the sheer incompetence and spinelessness being displayed by our political class. Phil Coutie

Exeter, Devon

SIR – To hear the view of the US ambassador, Woody Johnson, that Britain lacks confidence and has adopted a defeatist attitude towards Brexit, saddened me, as it must have saddened others among the 17.4 million Brexit voters.

I feel sure that many, far from being defeatist, are excited and optimistic for the future of our great nation after

Brexit. The problem we have is that the Government, Parliament and the media are jam-packed with Remain supporters, giving the impression that the common view in the country is one of fear and trepidation at likely failure.

The last time we were permitted to express our bold optimism was June 23 2016. Mr Johnson should be reassured that we Brits really haven’t lost the old Dunkirk spirit, just the means to express it. Simon Millar

Poole, Dorset

SIR – Sajid Javid’s hidden message (report, June 21) is that, whereas Britain can provide a uniform service to all proven EU citizens if they wish to reside here after Brexit, UK citizens will have to comply with each member state’s residency rules. The EU has no competence on this matter.

Theresa May wanted the question solved before the Brexit negotiations started, but the EU Commission refused because the member states would not and still have not delegated that power to the Commission.

Residency could be the issue that stops a deal unless the EU gets a move on. Or will we give up on our fellow citizens to get a deal, no matter how shameful? P J Cullum

Farnborough, Hampshire

SIR – Jean-claude Juncker says that Britain doesn’t realise how small it is. This comes from an unelected nonentity from Luxembourg whose country is less than a quarter of the size of Wales. John Campbell

Chester

SIR – Mr Juncker omitted to mention that our contribution to EU coffers is the third highest as a proportion of the EU budget, after Germany and France. David Ball

Winnersh, Berkshire

SIR – One has to laugh as it just gets ever more ridiculous. Talks have been held up for months, with the EU telling Britain that none of its proposals on maintaining an open border between Ireland and Northern Ireland is satisfactory.

Yet now it proposes that Britons may have to pay £50 to obtain an EU visa. Open border? Welcome to Juncker in Wonderland. Alastair Macmillan

Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire

SIR – On the Today programme yesterday we heard of the failure of the UK to agree a trade deal with the EU.

Why is it never the failure of the EU to agree a trade deal with the UK? Huw Wynne-griffith

London W8