The deal the EU will always deny Britain is control of the free movement of migrants

SIR – William Hague (Comment, June 7) reiterates the view of the Remain campaign that EU members states are “never going to give us a better arrangement than they have themselves” – access to the single market without the free movement of people.

This implies that the free movement of people is the opposite of a benefit. However, we are told by the EU that free movement of people stimulates economic growth and that it is the EU right most cherished by Europeans.

If the EU sees it as such an advantage, it would think a deal removing the free movement of people to Britain to be a worse arrangement, not a better one. Tony Daly Melksham, Wiltshire SIR – Mr Hague says: “Australia accepts far more migrants relative to its population then we do, including a much larger proportion of Syrian refugees.” He is right about this. But there is an important difference.

Australia reserves the right to select its refugees and it controls the number. It accepts Syrian refugees because it has chosen to. The selection process is rigorous. In comparison, Britain seems to have lost control of its borders. It can control neither the quantity nor the quality of immigrants.

Mr Hague says: “If we copied the Australian policy in detail we would have more immigration, not less.” Perhaps; but there is a big difference between invitation and self-selection.

Mr Hague surely knows this. David J Rees Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia SIR – Immigration is a bit of a dealbreaker in the campaign, so why have we heard nothing from David Cameron about the “emergency brake” he brought back from Brussels? Tim Cullen Pyecombe Street, West Sussex SIR – Mr Hague is wrong. The biggest question is not about economic policy or the single market. It is whether we are governed by a parliamentary democracy, or by people whom we have not directly elected. James Hadley Epsom, Surrey SIR – Both sides have been concentrating on the self-centred question “What is best for us?”

In these last weeks of the EU referendum campaign is it not time to address the question: “How do we make the best use in the interests of the world at large of our national talents?”

My continental friends are of the view that the British will make the best of themselves and make the world a better place by sharing their substantial political talents with the rest of the Continent. In her moving Christmas message in 1975, the Queen reminded us that we should try to make the most of the abilities we have been given and suggested that this was a matter of making the best of ourselves, not just doing the best for ourselves.” We would do well to bear this in mind as we vote. Sir Konrad Schiemann Patrixbourne, Kent SIR – Phoebe Luckhurst (Comment, June 7) expresses frustration at the Remain campaign’s patronising attitude towards young people. As one not so young, I feel exactly the same. Christopher Pratt Dorking, Surrey SIR – It’s wonderful. It’s marvellous. It’s all over. I’ve sent in my postal vote. Mike Whitfield Yarm, North Yorkshire SIR – Now it is certain that the next US presidential candidates are Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, in the spirit of reciprocation for Barack Obama’s visit to London, I trust that Mr Cameron will arrange to fly out to tell Americans which way to vote. Or would that be undue interference? Graham Jones Tytherington, Cheshire