Voting to remain in a European Union set on further expansion is the real ‘leap in the dark’

SIR – Forty years ago I voted in a referendum on whether to remain in or leave the European Economic Community; the outcome of that referendum was an overwhelming vote to remain.

Today, however, the European Union bears no resemblance whatsoever to the EEC in 1975. It is now a union of 28 nation states rather than an economic community of nine, and its power over member states is much greater than it was then.

David Cameron is wrong when he says a vote to leave is a “leap in the dark” (report, February 22); a vote to remain is a leap in the dark and the past 40 years are evidence of this.

Geoff Riley

Walden, Essex SIR – One of the reasons cited by David Cameron for staying in the EU is the matter of national security.

Has he forgotten Bosnia, and the complete inability of the EU to do anything while that country was experiencing rape, pillage and ethnic cleansing? This is also the institution whose Schengen open-borders policy has created a monumental crisis, for which it still has no solution.

David Broughton

Woodborough, Wiltshire SIR – I am alarmed to read that my MP, Michael Fallon, who is also the Defence Secretary, appears to be telling us that Nato does not have the ability to protect its members.

Apparently such protection is only available to members of the EU, presumably from its invisible armed forces.

John Evans

Sevenoaks, Kent SIR – It is insulting of the Prime Minister to claim that those proposing to vote to leave the EU are in any way making common cause with Ukip’s Nigel Farage or George Galloway (report, February 22).

There are many people who have their own well-considered reasons for believing that the EU does, and has done, more harm than good to our nation, not least by strangling our ability to maintain our fishing industry and, as Michael Gove has pointed out, our steel industry.

Felicity McWeeney

Hartburn, Northumberland SIR – David Cameron can hardly taunt Boris Johnson about having Mr Farage and Mr Galloway as bedfellows when he is sharing his own duvet with Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon.

Michael Austin

Abingdon, Oxfordshire SIR – Why is the pro-EU campaign so full of negativity and anger?

Each time I discuss the possibility of Brexit I am told that I am behind the times, that all my concerns are trivial and that I should be focusing on the bigger picture.

The EU leaders also keep saying how important it is that we should stay in, but refuse to discuss changes to fundamental principles such as freedom of movement. I would be much more inclined to vote to stay in the EU if its leaders and champions could tell me why being in this family is good for us all, rather than why I am such a spoilt and irritating child.

Ian MacGregor

London N7 SIR – John Salisbury (Letters, February 22) believes that it is wrong for old people to influence the future.

However, as one who voted to stay in the Common Market, I shall now vote to leave the EU for the sake of my grandson, who is not yet old enough to vote. I wish to restore to our nation the sovereignty which his greatgrandfather fought so hard to preserve.

Estelle Lumb

Shipley, West Yorkshire SIR – Mr Salisbury spoils his own argument by saying he will vote to stay in – surely he should simply abstain.

Colin Cummings

Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire