No limit to what we can achieve after Brexit deal

I AM not a Little Englander. Of German and French ancestry, I was a sad, neglected child when England took me in, educated me and cherished me with warmth, empathy and kindness.

It taught me about its culture and inimitable courteous ethos, now, sadly, largely forgotten, and gave me a sense of belonging. It made me into a decent, productive and empathic person. I am so proud of being British.

I have lived in other countries and come to realise that we are an island with different needs from Europe. We are a small nation, proud, able and competent. In order to fulfil these traits, we can’t be tied to legislation that strangles enterprise and is based on nanny state elitism under the banner of the European Union.

Our history is one of an ancient, seagoing nation of entrepreneurs and innovators. Let us once again become proud of this island and its peoples of all colours, backgrounds, shapes and sizes.

Let us become part of the greater world, spread our wings and learn to fly again, to soar and reach new heights. There is no limit to what we can achieve.

SYLVIA PINN, St Tudy, Cornwall.

Nation divided

IT’S pathetic that Remain MPs are threatening to barricade themselves in Parliament to defend democracy.

If they had accepted the democratic vote to leave the EU, Boris would never have had to suspend Parliament.

It’s not sensible for MPs to call on people to take to the streets when they are the ones responsible for the bad feeling and division in the country. Just let Boris get on with delivering the result the majority voted for.

SALLY MOSS, Reading, Berks.

Power-driven Remainers

WELL done, Boris: you realise you are in a position of power because of the people of this country. John Bercow, who only uses constitutional law when it suits his personal agenda, and Jeremy Corbyn, who thinks he’s the next saviour, should listen to the majority who voted to leave the EU.

If it wasn’t for power- driven Remainers, Brexit could have been a done deal a year ago.

MPs need to realise they are in Parliament to represent their constituents, not themselves. I’m sick of hearing the statement: ‘My conscience won’t allow me . . .’

We didn’t vote for your conscience, only your ability to represent us, which isn’t happening.

GINA SCOTTING, Lancing, W. Sussex.

Who’s undemocratic?

SO, BORIS Johnson is undemocratic? The MPs who ignore the wishes of their constituents and pursue their own personal views — they are undemocratic.

Politicians who plan to form a splinter group to thwart Brexit — they are undemocratic.

Speaker John Bercow, who is supposed to be impartial but openly supports Remain MPs — he is undemocratic.

Boris Johnson is within his democratic rights to prorogue Parliament and request a Queen’s Speech, which is months overdue. This is normal procedure for any new prime minister and has rightly been granted by the Queen. CAROLE RUSSELL,

Droitwich, Worcs.

Brilliant Blyton

SARAH VINE is right: my best classroom assistants in 32 years of teaching children to read have been the books of Enid Blyton.

They provide the greatest motivation: learning to read requires wanting to read.

True, she was an author of her time, but when the children requested yet another of her books at storytime, it was easy to adapt the stories for today. I had Anne of the Famous Five saying: ‘Come on, George, let’s explore while the boys wash the dishes.’

I treasure a thank-you card from a child moving up to junior school: ‘I will miss you and all the adventures we have had together.’ JANET ENTWISTLE,

Chelmsford, Essex.

Perils of plastic

PEOPLE who only drink tap water may ingest as few as 4,000 pieces of microplastic a year, while those who drink a lot of water in plastic bottles may take in up to 90,000 pieces, according to research.

Ingestion of microplastics from food and packaging is in the range of 40,000 to 50,000 pieces a year.

There are claims such ingestion is likely to be a major cause of some forms of cancer as well as lung disease, yet little serious research has been done into this. In my view, this is a more pressing challenge than ocean garbage and its impact on marine life, or the evils of single-use plastic bags. Professor MICHAEL JEFFERSON,

Melchbourne, Beds.

Football’s own goal

WHEN will football learn? How can the high and mighty Manchester United be proud of itself while its neighbours Bury FC goes to the wall?

Bury’s total weekly wage bill would have been less than the sum paid to just one of United’s star players.

Once a player is paid £100,000 a week, more than an NHS heart surgeon earns in a year, that should be enough. With bonuses and endorsements taken into account, the figure’s astronomical.

Some highly paid players would rather keep the subs’ bench warm than move to a club that can’t afford their wages.

The money coming into the game needs to be distributed for the good of the game, not just given to elite clubs to waste on overrated foreign players.

Seeing the anguish of the Bury fans shows what football means to a town. It is easy to support Manchester United but not as easy to support the likes of Bury. DAVID PATRICK MOORE,

Beckenham, Kent.

Hello, darling

I AM surprised that people object to being called ‘darling’, ‘love’ and ‘guys’ (Letters).

As long as you are addressed in a friendly and civil way, what does it matter which form of greeting is used? Is being overfamiliar really a bad thing?

In an age in which face-to-face interaction is in decline, we should be thankful that people are taking the time to acknowledge us.

ADAM OAKLEY, Derby.

One is not amused

THE ‘HELCH’ graffiti that upset the Queen is being removed from a railway bridge near Windsor Castle (Mail).

Hideous graffiti has been daubed on all the other rail bridges in my borough for years.

Network Rail used to clean it off when it was reported, but now that happens only if it is deemed to be obscene.

Not even our councillor and MP have been able to persuade Network Rail to deal with it. WENDY PARKER, Shirley, W. Mids.