WTO rules not OK

The creation of the single market a quarter of a century ago turned continental EU into our domestic market. The removal of barriers allowed our trade with Europe to double, making us much richer and leading to almost full employment.

Brexiteers claim there’s no significant drawback to the UK leaving the EU without a deal and just trading with it on WTO terms. This just isn’t true. Under WTO rules the EU cannot treat UK exporters more favourably than other WTO members.

Hence the full range of EU tariff and non-tariff barriers would be imposed on UK exporters of goods, agriculture and services, leading to customs forms and severe delays at the ports.

Again, if we just flounce out of the EU regulatory agencies without having domestic alternatives in place, it will do enormous damage to our pharmaceutical, aviation and car industries.

Of course, it’s hard to discuss falling off the cliff edge without Tory backwoodsmen shouting about Project Fear, but the fact is that trading on WTO terms won’t make leaving the EU without a deal any less of a disaster.

REV DR JOHN CAMERON, Howard Place, St Andrews