Brexiteers must not let their guard down

SIR – Robert Tombs (Comment, February 2) points out that the EU has always lacked a clear moral purpose. Brexit has raised the perennial moral issue of the fallibility of human nature when exercising authority.

Given power without adequate accountability, human beings will err. The only protection that those who are governed have from their rulers is the power to remove them. The relentless centralisation of the EU ignores all the lessons of history. Indeed, the “insolence of office” is already all too evident in Brussels.

Due to the huge funds that the EU has at its disposal, there are many vested interests in its survival, including in the British establishment – whose reluctant surrender to public opinion demonstrated the wisdom of the referendum result.

Victory is by no means complete. Euphoria must not impair our vigilance. The Remainers are down but by no means out. Chris Jones

Croydon, Surrey

SIR – Robert Tombs gives an excellent summary of Britain’s relationship with the EU. It is indeed ironic that Charles de Gaulle understood so well the significance of our island and maritime history, and our pride in our democratic heritage and rule of law.

More important, however, is the fact that Britain has always rejected bullies – whether they be absolute monarchs , tyrannical replacements, continental and local fascists, autocratic bureaucracies or self-appointed elites. And perhaps it will finally be recognised that British voters have always made up their own minds about what matters to them. John Hanson

Canterbury, Kent