The Conservatives have shelved their manifesto commitment on Brexit MPS’ misdemeanours
SIR – On Tuesday morning I received a leaflet from the Conservative Party, which says that Theresa May is working tirelessly to pass a workable deal that takes back control of our borders; leaves the Common Fisheries Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy; and protects jobs, security and our United Kingdom.
I note that the deal will not allow us to leave the customs union, as promised in the 2017 Conservative election manifesto. Alan Cox
Belper, Derbyshire
SIR – When Jeremy Corbyn or the shadow chancellor John Mcdonnell are asked about their talks with Theresa May on Brexit, they respond by suggesting that she should give way and agree with their proposal of a full and permanent customs union for the good of the country (report, May 8).
It’s good to see that compromise is still dead in the Labour Party.
A J C Gorman
Ickenham, Middlesex
SIR – If I had wished for Jeremy Corbyn to be making decisions that affected the outcome of Brexit, I would have voted for Labour at the last general election. Richard Acland
Chepstow, Monmouthshire
SIR – Perhaps the way to get MPS to resolve the Brexit impasse is to postpone their forthcoming summer recess until an agreement is reached.
MPS alone continue as if nothing has changed, while the nation as a whole sees lives and livelihoods placed on hold. Chris Hardy
Dollar, Clackmannanshire
SIR – Like millions of people who voted to leave the EU, I am angered and frustrated by the incompetence of this Government and its inability to enact legislation necessary for our departure. A second referendum would achieve little except to sow further uncertainty.
I am sure that the Government
could engineer and force through a clean exit under World Trade Organisation terms. We would then be free to heal the wounds and set about building a prosperous future.
As members of the public we feel that democracy has not been served and that we are powerless to influence the outcome. We only have the ballot box – and that did not work in 2016. Dudley Price
Wells, Somerset
SIR – While I deplore the need to take part in European elections at this late stage, they do at least present an opportunity to send a message unencumbered by general party politics.
Local and general elections offer a mixed bag of policies that muddy the waters and do not provide a clear answer to Brexit. The European elections offer a choice of electing representatives who are clearly for or against our membership of the EU. David Parrott
Stroud, Gloucestershire
SIR – You report (May 8) that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) tried to stop disclosure of MPS’ misuse of parliamentary credit cards on the grounds it would have a “chilling effect” on its relationship with MPS.
How silly of me to have imagined that part of the role of Ipsa was to have a chilly relationship with recalcitrant MPS. David Salter
Richmond, Surrey
SIR – Ten years ago The Daily Telegraph exposed rampant expenses fiddling and tax avoidance at Westminster. Since then, we have had a convicted criminal, Fiona Onasanya, refuse to resign; an unparalleled display of incompetence in dealing with Brexit; and now more financial shenanigans with the use of credit cards.
Any employee in the private sector who fell short in any of these matters would be sacked. Peter Preston
Ivybridge, Devon