Brexit was driven by immigration issue

I would like to agree with Lee Knowles (Letters, September 14) but then I’m afraid we would both be wrong.

Even the most casual observer could see that the Brexit campaign and vote was chiefly driven by the ‘R’ word. Immigration and migrants figured in virtually every propaganda broadcast, and who can forget Farage’s fake poster.

The big giveaway however was the nightly TV news street interviews with ordinary citizens in which immigrants were given as the chief reason for Brexit voting by interviewees. Along with the lying statements on the Brexit bus these were the chief influences for my voting ‘remain’.

I am not accusing Lee of having these opinions, I’m just affirming that he was in a small minority if not possessing them. Despite disagreeing with the EU’s fiscal policy my philosophy was that if you are in an organisation and disagree with some of its workings, then fight from within to affect change, don’t run squealing into isolation.

There were many advantages to EU membership which have now been lost – ask the large number of business owners whose trade has suffered. As for having the right to self-governance there are plenty of British citizens who regret being self-governed by the incompetent shower we are blessed with at the moment – maybe we could use a bit of European experience and common sense!

And just as an afterthought, a rise in NHI contributions (not in the manifesto) to protect the NHS and Social Care? – what happened to the £350 million a week for the NHS that was going to be saved by leaving the EU?

Phil Garner, Littleover