Throw out the emotions and embrace the facts of Britain’s position on Brexit

Over recent days your Brexit correspondents have validated the ethos of Cambridge Analytica that emotions are more important than facts.

We were told with no apparent trace of irony it would be a disgrace if UK passports are produced by a French company despite the UK manufacturer quoting £120 million higher and currently doing the same work, including bank notes, for over 40 other countries.

Perhaps these foreign gov- ernments should adopt the same attitude. The new global branding of UK trade would be “we want your business but you cannot have any of ours”.

It was also suggested that the millionaires of the closed shop quota fishing system should get different treatment during the transition arrangement until December 2020. This further period of existing rules but no say was requested by UK negotiators.

Possibly most other sections of business and industry recognise that the so called cliff edge can be delayed by 21 months allowing further time to adapt to whatever the UK Government eventually concedes as the new trading arrangement.

Perhaps those smaller fishing businesses and processors who rely on EU markets for 70 per cent of their trade might be thankful that, for the short term, exports can continue as now. In the long run it is questionable whether this arrangement will provide a graceful chute or a long drop and a mattress for a final landing.

We still have the meaningless incantation of democratic control, borders, and a parting gift of £39 billion. The EU Parliament is fully elected by a proportional system and is more reflective of the views of voters than the UK’S first past the post system, which allows for a government entirely of one persuasion to be formed with less than a majority of votes. How can our system, including an entirely unelected House of Lords, be considered more democratic?

The EU did not give us our worst social ills including austerity, failing health, social care and education systems or poor productivity. The UK had the best deal out of all the EU countries, with its sovereignty being protected on currency and Schengen borders and relating to all major policy issues, including new members. If we want the transition period we have to make further payments for the current budget period, and beyond that, all we have agreed is to meet obligations, on a reducing basis, such as pension payments and other commitments previously enteredinto. Wehavereceived credits for our share of the EU Investment Bank etc. As negotiations proceed, hopefully further facts will enlighten us all but in the meantime, cut out all the fantasies. GRAHAM HAY

Player Green Livingston, West Lothian