‘Bare bones’ deal

I can understand Geoffrey Brooking’s concern (Brexit Party for me’ Nov 1), however. he should understand that politics is the art of the possible.

Following Theresa May’s precedent and having been deprived of his most effective negotiating tool – ‘no deal’ by parliament, Boris Johnson, by sheer force of personality, came away with the best deal possible in that situation.

However, parliament put forward a series of delaying amendments, designed to eventually kill the deal.

The points we are voting for, so Geoffrey claims, that seem to come from the Brexit party’s website, will only apply until the transition period finishes at the end of next year.

After that we will have control of our borders, finance and laws.

Also the deal is ‘bare bones’ with much of the ‘meat’ still to be negotiated – which will include a free trade agreement, as a priority and other matters to be refined or renegotiated.

All this can only happen if the Conservatives are returned with a reasonable majority.

A vote for the Brexit party may seem a good idea in principle but in practice it could stop Brexit completely. Nationally, it is estimated that two Conservative to one Labour voter could switch to Brexit. They may have swept the polls in the Euro election but that was under a PR system. First past the post in the general election is very different and I will be surprised if they even win any seats. What they will do us take a lot of votes, mainly from the Conservatives. Locally in Hampshire there are only two Labourheld seats out of 18 to be contested. The 16 Tory seats have all got a sound majority, with the exception of Royston Smith in Southampton Itchen, who has a majority of only 31. A reasonable Brexit vote there will return that seat to Labour. The Southampton Test seat is held by Alan Whitehead of Labour with a majority of 11,500. He will be safe. The other Labour seat is held by our own Stephen Morgan in Portsmouth South. He could be vulnerable because much of his 1,500 majority, derived from University of Portsmouth, will have departed home for their Christmas holidays. Last time even Ukip polled over 1,100 votes, so a strong Brexit vote could mean Labour retaining that seat.

Labour are unlikely to achieve an overall majority but Jeremy Corbyn could lead an alliance with the Lib-Dems and the Scots Nationals etc. which would not only kill Brexit stone dead but with their Marxist type ‘renationalise everything agenda’ that would be disastrous for our country.

If Geoffrey or anyone else wants to see this country achieve what we voted for in the referendum – to leave the EU, the only way is to vote conservative.

Charles Mos

Laburnum Grove, Portsmouth