The United Kingdom is now divided as never before, except in its exasperation with politicians
SIR – Has this nation ever been as divided as it is now over Brexit, yet at the same time almost completely united in its exasperation with the political class, bordering on contempt?
Bill Bailey
Cardiff
SIR – Leadership is about inspiration, example and decisive action. The Brexit debacle shows politicians, irrespective of party, to be sadly lacking any vestige of these vital skills. Britain was once regarded round the globe for its statesmanlike qualities of political leadership – no longer.
Major General John Stokoe (retd)
Sherborne, Dorset
SIR – In the past, prime ministers threatened to resign if their proposals were rejected. Theresa May said she would resign if her wretched Withdrawal Agreement was passed.
To accept a deal so damaging to the United Kingdom in order to get rid of the worst Prime Minister in any of our lifetimes was a dreadful choice.
Keith Field
Potters Bar, Hertfordshire
SIR – Given the many times Mrs May has promised that the UK would leave the EU on March 29, only to agree a delay with the EU without troubling to consult Parliament, why would MPS accept any assurance she might give as to when she will step down?
David Cooke
Cobham, Surrey
SIR – Lord King of Lothbury, the former Governor of the Bank of England, hit the nail on the head on Radio 4 yesterday morning, when he said that the debate should not be about economics or trade deals but about whether or not we want to be part of a group committed to evercloser political union.
I voted to leave the EU because I do not want to belong to a United States of Europe. The other issues can all be sorted out by us in the manner we choose, as we have done successfully for centuries.
Leave and Remain voters have been betrayed by their MPS.
Ian Sandison
Colinsburgh, Fife
SIR – I was on duty until 10 o’clock at night on the day before we joined the Common Market, and back in my office at eight the next day. During that short period, a smooth transition was completed from the old to the new, all arrangements being in place.
Overnight the new tax imposed upon us was smoothly collected, with five new office blocks at Southend housing the new VAT staff.
It did not take long for free movement of labour to permit foreign criminals to enter the country: I encountered my first, a convicted French murderer, within hours. Had he arrived the day before, he would have been refused entry.
There was a majority of only eight MPS passing the legislation, and arrangements worked well and on time. In 2017, we had 498 MPS voting to leave the EU, yet we are still not ready.
Michael Peacock
Isleworth, Middlesex
SIR – You would be well advised to keep to hand yesterday’s front-page headline, “The day of reckoning”. It will be needed for the day of the next general election.
Philip J Ashe
Leeds, West Yorkshire
SIR – Faith in Parliament has suffered a severe blow. What has struck me is the number of people I have heard, both Remainers and Leavers, saying they will not vote at the next election. Why bother if it means nothing?
Perhaps we need a new party composed of the best from both sides of the House.
Jane Faire
Fakenham, Norfolk
SIR – When the major contenders in any election abandon their manifesto promises once in power, the results are feelings of betrayal and despair among the electorate.
I now have two questions for any politician canvassing for any party.
1. Why should I vote for you or your party?
2. Why should I believe your answer to the first question?
Mike Cornes
Bicester, Oxfordshire SIR – When the general election comes, for whom can I vote?
None of the minor parties will be able to have sufficient MPS to form even a coalition government, sadly, not even Ukip. I will not vote for a Labour Party which is becoming increasingly Marxist.
That leaves the Conservative Party, containing MPS who are happy to accept the democratic will of the electorate to gain a seat in Parliament, but then seek to deny the same democratic will of the people, as expressed in the 2016 referendum.
If I show my disgust by abstaining, fanatics will be given the reins of power.
I am too old to emigrate to the Antipodes, so what can I do?
A O H Lewis
Peterborough
SIR – It is difficult to see how Frederick Forsyth’s prediction (Letters, March 29) of 400 MPS being voted into oblivion will be achieved. Even if Mrs May is replaced with a decent Brexitbeliever, how will the party win, if most of the Remainers stand for re-election? And they will.
Charles Hobbs
Winchester
SIR – The Labour Party says that it wants a Brexit that will protect jobs. Yet the Labour Party’s Brexit plan will entail de facto membership of both the single market and the customs union (at least I think so, but it is somewhat incoherent). How does Labour envisage that it will be able to protect jobs if it cedes control of both economic policy and trade policy to the EU, without UK representation, after Brexit?
Kevin Weyman
Maidstone, Kent
SIR – The next time a canvassing MP appears on my doorstep, I’ll tell them that they’ll get my indicative vote.
William Gordon
Nantglyn, Denbighshire
SIR – I had been intending to resign my membership of the Conservative Party after 45 years on March 29 in protest at the Government’s failure to deliver on the result of the referendum. However, the prospect of an imminent vote in a leadership election is an incentive for me to stay, in the hope that I can vote for a true Brexiteer to take over from the hapless Mrs May.
I trust that Conservative MPS will take on board the wise words of Andrea Jenkyns and ensure that the membership is not presented with a vote between two Remainers. That would be the death knell of the party.
Edward Giles
Hamble-le-rice, Hampshire
SIR – One must hope for a breach with the recurring precedent that the early favourite in any Conservative leadership race fails to win.
Since the party’s choice of leader will also become prime minister at this perilous moment, it must be someone with the requisite seniority, ministerial experience and previous record of success, someone who has the energy, courage and strategic vision to resolve the current political impasse. It is imperative that this person has demonstrated loyalty and respect to previous leaders in order to have any chance of earning the loyalty and respect of the wider electorate.
The new leader must be a good parliamentarian, an articulate and courteous media performer – who will relish the opportunity to participate in election debates – and a forthright defender of Conservative philosophy and the party’s record in government, with radical ideas that can appeal, in particular, to younger voters. Crucially, the next Conservative leader must also be a committed Brexiteer. The only candidate who fulfils each of these criteria – in spades – is Michael Gove.
Philip Duly
Haslemere, Surrey
SIR – How could the Conservative Party even think that back-stabber Michael Gove might be the next PM? Isn’t he the author of all our woes?
Chris Hutton
Sandhurst, Kent
SIR – I have never been a great fan of Boris Johnson, viewing him as a London-focused attention-seeker. However, perhaps his time has come.
Parliament, the Government and the Conservatives are all in a shambles. We need a Churchillian figure with the drive and charisma required to pull the Government and the party together and to sort out a decent trading arrangement with the EU after Brexit. Among the list of grey contenders, Mr Johnson stands out as the one most likely to succeed.
Peter Munro
Wincanton, Somerset
SIR – Yesterday I woke up worrying about whether to resign from the Conservative Party. As the elected Conservative Police & Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, the largest Conservative constituency in the country, it is not an easy decision.
Of the 17 Conservative MPS in my area, only five have consistently supported Brexit. The rest have betrayed both the vast majority of their Conservative voters, and the Conservative associations that selected them to be MPS.
I have decided not to resign, as I believe it is, for the time being, better to be in the tent than outside. However, come the EU elections, into which we are likely to be forced, I will not be voting Conservative. Only one of my MEPS is worth voting for – Daniel Hannan. Unfortunately, we cannot vote for individuals in that election.
Anthony Stansfeld
Kidlington, Oxfordshire
SIR – Some commentators are suggesting civil unrest in the event of Parliament not delivering the exit for which a majority voted. I am old enough to have witnessed Spain in some detail less than 20 years after the end of their civil war.
It was a pretty country, but not a pretty sight.
M J Monro
Lymington, Hampshire
SIR – I marked March 29 2019 by wearing a black tie.
Mike Hames
Cradley, Herefordshire
SIR – We have now created a new national day. March 29 will be known as the Day of Humiliation.
John Reid
Carbis Bay, Cornwall
SIR – To answer the question from Peter Wickison – “Where’s the Official Monster Raving Loony Party when you need it?” (Letters, March 29) –contrary to popular belief, we are not in government at the moment.
However, we are preparing for imminent power, as the other parties seem intent on self-destruction. Sadly these parties seem intent on dragging the country down with them.
Baron Von Thunderclap
Loony Party parish councillor Bolney, West Sussex
SIR – The fightback has begun. Sticker spotted on a Bentley in the Waitrose car park in Marlow: “B------s to Bercow”.
Leonard Oliver Fraser-scott
Lords Wood, Kent