Lost in an infinity mirror of negatives

Each week I approach Dr Cooper’s regular letter to the Advertiser with the same degree of anticipation as preparing to solve the Times Cryptic Crossword.

The December 16 letter reached new heights of convolution with double negatives, even a triple negative, and a lengthy single sentence final paragraph of 68 words.

It left me breathless with incomprehension.

The Government’s own ‘Service Design Manual’ explains how people read and why sentences longer than 25 words aren’t accessible.

In the spirit of Christmas and wishing him

well in his relentless mission, I wonder if Dr Cooper could prepare for your New Year edition a simply phrased statement of his proposition to resolve the Brexit impasse on trade with Northern Ireland.

It would certainly go some way to helping the less linguistically able of us (and possibly Liz Truss, newly in charge of negotiations with the EU) to understand his proposal.

Am I right in thinking he believes that there isn’t really a problem in achieving unhindered movement of goods between Ireland (ROI) and NI, and at the same time between NI and the rest of the UK?

I just can’t see that being possible without joining the EU Customs Union... now there’s an interesting idea!

Déjà vu?

ROBIN WILLIAMS Chiltern Road

Bray