Blindsided on Brexit

NONe of our politicians understood the risks of Brexit and largely viewed it as irrelevant to their objectives of wielding or gaining power.

We, the people, did not understand the risks either. People I know who run small and medium-sized enter- prises are frightened of Brexit and fear they will go out of business.

Managers at my local hospital don’t sleep at night because they are worried they will be unable to staff the wards. The same fear haunts farmers who employ casual labour from eastern europe. Financial experts now warn that the UK will go into recession after Brexit. Those least well-off will suffer the most.

The people who voted for Brexit did not vote to leave europe, they voted against the establishment in Brussels and Whitehall.

I now believe there should be a withdrawal of the UK application to leave the eU, or a new referendum. I voted to leave in 2016, but if there were a second referendum, I would vote to remain. Bill BUtteRwoRth,

Devizes, wilts. NOW that Theresa May’s Brexit deal has been rejected, and with only weeks left until the March 29 deadline, the UK has but two choices.

One, stay as a full member of the eU, which was the desired outcome for a majority of our self-serving politicians, or a no-deal departure.

Anything other than these two choices would leave us shackled to the eU for years to come, like a dog with no teeth.

Whichever way it goes, I hope the politicians will reflect on their actions, and look forward to the next general election with trepidation. B. SteVeN, Glenrothes, Fife. The chance there will be a no-deal Brexit has undoubtedly increased.

We must, therefore, now draw a line in the sand and, if we reach a certain date when no deal is agreed, then no deal must be the decision. Such a line in the sand could be January 29.

We must not sleepwalk into such a situation on March 29. This would give businesses two months to prepare. Without this, there would be major job losses. GEOFF MOORE, Alness, Ross-shire.