Vote with your feet, Blair and Clegg

OF course supporters of Tony Blair and Nick Clegg must not be denied a second vote to remain within the EU. Nor should they have to wait until the end of Brexit negotiations. Aside from a possible brief delay while Eurostar’s air-conditioning is fixed, they can vote with their feet now.

For those in the civilised part of the country EU soil is barely further away than if, God forbid, they were moving to one of the towns or cities which voted to leave. As good Europeans they will have availed themselves of the opportunity offered by their school to become fluent in a second modern European language, so they will have no difficulty fitting in.

For those prevented by deprivation from paying attention in class, there are the Anglophone destinations of Ireland and Germany. As Esteban Gonzales Pons has made clear, the welfare state is fundamental to the EU, so no one need feel they are too poor or unemployable to find a fresh start there.

As when America rashly left benevolent British rule, there will be many United Empire Loyalists seeking refuge and resettlement within the remaining imperium of Brussels. Had there been such massive net emigration sooner there would not have been Brexit, but then perhaps the receiving nations would have opted to exit instead.

As Mother Shipton may have prophesied “All will be well when those who want to remain leave and those who wish to leave remain”. John Riseley

Harrogate