Britain must stand firm – we will pay no Brexit bill without a trade deal
SIR – The EU’s insistence that our £39 billion “divorce payment” should not be strictly linked to a comprehensive trade agreement must be absolutely rejected.
There would be national outcry if Theresa May agreed to that. The worry is that her wish to get a deal at all costs will bring about just this capitulation. Let us hope that at least some Cabinet ministers will stand up to her.
Those of us going to the Conservative Party conference will need to take the opportunity to make our opinions very clear to Mrs May. John Sharp
Great Glen, Leicestershire
SIR – Liam Halligan (Business, July 22) suggests some major concerns for the Conservatives.
Remainer MPs may realise their mistake in supporting Mrs May only when it is too late. To counteract this, Conservative Association chairmen need to remind their MPs that they have a duty to represent their constituents’ wishes for Brexit, rather than voice their own personal views.
MPs also appear to be unaware of how popular Boris Johnson is with grassroots members, and fail to recognise that he is the only Conservative politician who could lead the party to victory in the next general election. Raymond Jones
Modbury, Devon
SIR – David Brown (Letters, July 22) complains that nobody explained the pitfalls of Brexit.
On the contrary, David Cameron spent £9.3 million of taxpayers’ money on a leaflet warning of the dreadful consequences. Madge Ayres
Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
SIR – I have often wondered whether any Conservative politicians read Christopher Booker’s column, in which he has been setting out, almost week by week, the calamities that surround Theresa May and her sorry band – calamities that will turn into chaos with a no-deal Brexit. Mr Booker has repeatedly stressed the attractive and workable alternative of joining the European Economic Area. It is time people stood up in support of this option.
However, as Tim Stanley points out (Comment, July 24), in order for this option to work, Mrs May would have to go, and be replaced by a true Brexiteer. She has tried her best – but she has failed. If a new leader had the courage to follow Mr Booker’s advice, the present problems would be solved. The Conservatives would be saved, and the double disaster of weakened but continued membership of the EU, combined with a Corbyn administration, avoided. Guy Napthine
Nottingham
SIR – At the present time, would it not be politic to have two prime ministers – one to govern the country, and the other to negotiate Brexit? Mary Bayntun Coward
Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire