Toughen up, Theresa

tHeResA MAY has a chance to show she can be as tough as Margaret thatcher by refusing to pay the eU any more than the £20billion she has already offered.

she should set a short deadline for acceptance of the £20billion offer, which should only be payable on the conclusion of a satisfactory trade deal. Otherwise, walk away.

this way, we will save £40billion, which can be used to fund the nHs and help our industries to cope after Brexit. We have to stop pussy-footing around with the eU. We have a strong hand and should play it. JoHn Krol, london. WHY is everyone assuming that Brexit is a one-way street and the UK is the only one on the road?

no one, not even those who voted to remain, denies that the eU sells more to us than we do to them so even if there is no ‘deal’ europe still comes out ahead of the game.

the Prime Minister should stop shackling our negotiating team by constantly backing down to the eU’s demands and dig her famous kitten heels in.

Christmas is coming and everyone wants to get to the shops or online to buy all these european goods that flood into the country so let’s call a halt to negotiations until the new Year and we will see Barnier, tusk and Juncker banging on our door come January, desperate to be our ‘first foots’ looking for a deal. PHil JoHnson, bishopton, renfrewshire. A BReXIt bill of £40billion? that should cover compensation for the illegal ban on British beef, the illegal blockage of Channel ports and their illegal financing of europe’s motor and aircraft industries.

We should accept this sum in exchange for our agreement to a free trade arrangement. J. b. sMitH, norwich.