It’s fanciful to believe that Brexit will solve our immigration problems

SIR – It is understandable that people who are worried about the level of net migration to Britain want to leave the European Union. However, they are likely to be disappointed if they think net migration after Brexit would fall significantly in the near future.

Negotiations for a new arrangement with the EU would take at least two years. During that time, free movement would still occur. If we joined the European Economic Area, like Norway, we would still have to accept free movement. In addition, up to one million British pensioners, afraid of losing their healthcare rights abroad, could decide to return, placing pressure on housing and the NHS.

Any significant post-Brexit fall in net migration would be unlikely for a few years. By then, economic conditions here may have changed and Britain may no longer be a magnet for those seeking work. But that situation would hardly be a happy one for our working-age population. Alan Pavelin Chislehurst, Kent SIR – We are a small island with limited resources. Unless we have full control of our borders, everything else is wishful thinking. Christopher Prance Bideford, Devon

SIR – I have just returned from giving a lecture to a group of physicians from the Baltic states. The venue was a new university hospital, funded largely by the EU – and, no doubt, the UK.

However, Brexiters may wish to consider this: the medical school serves the whole of Latvia, and around 200 newly trained doctors graduate each year. Of these, half migrate freely under EU rules to other countries, including several each year to the UK.

If it costs £500,000 to train a doctor and a dozen come here, this represents around £6 million a year in medical aid to the UK from Latvia alone. Dr Tim Raine Cambridge

SIR – I cannot see how free movement in a continent made up of countries moving at different speeds economically is a good idea.

The stronger economies suck up all the skilled labour while suffering huge social and infrastructure strains, and the weaker economies suffer a brain drain and decreasing GDP, requiring further handouts from richer nations. David Spencer-Percival London SW3

SIR – I am following the arguments deployed by the Brexit campaign with interest and growing incredulity.

We have a handful of ministers and a former mayor making pledges which include a reduction in fuel duty, the redirection of savings to the NHS and now an Australian-style points-based immigration system (report, June 1).

These are enticing policies for some, but my question is: by what authority are my colleagues blessed to make such promises? They have none – and it is deeply misleading to posture in a way that suggests otherwise. Simon Hoare MP (Con) London SW1