Brexit trade negotiations must recognise that Britain is in control

SIR – Christopher Booker (Review, August 14) suggests that the only sensible way to leave the EU is to stay in the European Economic Area and apply to join Norway (and, presumably, the other members) in the European Free Trade Area. He says: “Only this can ensure that we can continue to trade with the single market just as we do now. Which is what the vast majority of the British people want”.

Given that a small but clear majority of those who voted in the referendum chose to leave the EU, it seems implausible that “the vast majority” of British people would wish to continue with a trading regime that is subject to EU laws and regulations.

I suspect most British people are less concerned with the technicalities of trade, tariffs and markets than with their ability to regain control of their laws, their borders and their finances. Trade will continue – and flourish. Michael Grant Saint-Vincent-d’Autéjac Midi-Pyrénées, France SIR – Norway has to accept freedom of movement as the price for access to the single market. With the deal that Mr Booker wants, Britain would still have an immigration problem and be subject to at least some of the EU’s trade protectionism and restrictions.

Norway also pays a contribution towards EU funding, which means Britain would still have budget obligations, and these would be vulnerable to increases.

We should not accept compromises. These would be a gift for Ukip and threaten the Tories’ chances of winning the 2020 election. David Taylor Lymington, Hampshire

SIR – The Leavers have no plan for disentangling ourselves from the intricacies of the EU.

Conservatives, regardless of how they voted in the referendum, are now toeing the party line of “Brexit means Brexit”, even though nobody actually knows what this means.

Politics is at a low point, with Labour bickering among themselves, and an unelected Prime Minister who does not have the backing of the people. This leaves Britain in a weak position and vulnerable to outside forces. Alison House Murcia, Spain

SIR – Miriam González Durántez (telegraph.co.uk, July 30) believes that, as a Remainer, she has a monopoly of belief in “internationalism, openness and being forward-looking” – and that, due to the Brexit vote, Britain is now “going backwards”.

She obviously cannot bring herself to accept that those of us who voted for Brexit might have done so in order to return democratic power to Britain, enhancing our ability to be open and internationalist.

I am delighted at the thought of cooperating with the EU on trade, the environment and anything else – but as an equal, not a subordinate. Peter Ward Ipswich, Suffolk