Brexit sovereignty
SIR – A key issue for many Brexiteers is the recovery of sovereignty. The Canada-plus formula would go some way towards securing this, but it would need to be specific about how Britain could throw off the remaining EU shackles if they prove intolerable.
A clause should be included in the final agreement which reserves Britain’s right to withdraw unilaterally from any or all of its remaining commitments to the EU, within an agreed period, if that becomes the expressed wish of Parliament.
Such provision should cost nothing, as it is already implicit in Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. But by specifically returning the initiative to Britain, it should ease the consciences of Brexit supporters with residual concerns about sovereignty, and hence improve the prospects of Parliament approving the redrafted plan. Michael Allisstone
Chichester, West Sussex
SIR – All my reservations about a Canada-style Brexit trade deal vanished the second I discovered that the CBI opposes it. Rory Mulvihill
Naburn, North Yorkshire
SIR – As a committed Brexiteer, I now believe that as long as Theresa May takes us out of the EU next March, the country will understand any compromise made to achieve this end.
I suggest that the arch-brexiteers should soften their resistance, and help her to achieve this. Rupert Hambro
London SW1
SIR – John Taylor (Letters, September 22) wonders what question a second referendum would ask.
Sadly, despite Mrs May’s efforts, there is no agreement, either in the country or Parliament, as to what was authorised by the last referendum. The only solution is therefore to hold a second referendum, not because the EU demands it but because Britain’s internal division needs to be healed.
As the electorate is now much better educated as to the alternatives, it should not be a binary question. We should be given four options: Remain, Leave (WTO terms), Canada-plus and the Norway option. A preference voting system should be used and a 60 per cent majority required. Isaac Morcowitz
Hove, East Sussex