Cameron’s cowardice over EU television debates is an insult to voters

SIR – The Prime Minister’s refusal to debate Brexit with senior figures from the official Leave campaign (report, May 12) is not only cowardly but disrespectful of the British people.

His excuse – that he doesn’t want “blue on blue” attacks – would have carried more weight had he not been the first to attack Cabinet members backing Leave. Phil Coutie Exeter, Devon SIR – David Cameron has claimed that I want to “obliterate” manufacturing. This is an absurd misrepresentation.

What I have said is that Brexit would optimise free trade by abolishing the EU’s protective trade barriers. Over time, the economy would shift from highly protected sectors towards previously unprotected ones. This would imply more competition for manufacturing from low-wage countries.

It is already the case that, since 1970, UK manufacturing has fallen from 35 per cent of employment to 8 per cent. However, the substantial part of UK manufacturing that is specialist and hi-tech in nature would remain and flourish after Brexit.

Outside the EU, the UK would attract more investment in these areas. Other parts of industry could be protected, using a fraction of our net contribution to the EU budget. This is what happens in the United States – there is a 267 per cent duty on steel.

After Brexit, voters would have this choice; inside the EU they pay higher prices for a regime that is damaging to their interests. Professor Patrick Minford Co-chairman, Economists for Brexit Cardiff SIR – Maj Gen Julian Thompson (Comment, May 12) is wrong to assert that “the common [EU] foreign and security policy is coming whatever ministers say”.

Certainly, the language of the 1992 Maastricht Treaty – which speaks of an “eventual framing of a common defence policy, which might lead in time to a common defence” – should never have been let through by the UK. As political director of the Foreign Office at the time, I advised strongly against it – and was overruled.

However, the later Lisbon Treaty (2007), which forms the constitutional base for the EU, states clearly that moves to a common defence would require a unanimous decision by the European Council, as well as approval by all member states through their own constitutional procedures. John Weston Richmond, Surrey SIR – Sir Nicholas Soames (Letters, May 12) says we will never join an EU army. Margaret Thatcher negotiated a rebate. Tony Blair, wishing to be communautaire, subsequently gave much of it away.

Can Sir Nicholas ensure that a future government will not change our army commitment? I think not, unless we are not a member of the EU. G P Brown Norwich