The status quo is crumbling all across Europe

SIR – Both the EU referendum and the US presidential election were revolutions at the ballot box which overturned the status quo.

The forthcoming referendum in Italy on constitutional reform could tip the EU over. The French and German elections could well be followed by their own EU referendums, while the Dutch are itching for theirs.

Depending on your viewpoint, there is either a possibility or a probability that triggering Article 50 will be irrelevant by December 31 2017. Alton, Hampshire SIR – Prior to my recent retirement, I was CEO of a multinational business. Had my management team voted to follow a course of action, even by one vote, I would have expected every member of the management team to commit themselves entirely to ensure a successful outcome.

Britain voted for Brexit; yet all I see is the Remain side doing everything they can to rubbish the vote and claim that “we” were misled.

Britain deserves better, and all sides Welton, Lincolnshire SIR – Michael Deacon’s whimsical sketch (October 17), suggesting that Theresa May’s plan for Brexit negotiations may be to “sit down at the table and then say absolutely nothing”, reminded me of an occasion many years ago when I accompanied my then company chairman to a meeting with a negotiator for a major retailer, with a view to persuading them to stock our product.

Invited to negotiate terms, our man just sat silently for several minutes. Eventually the retailer caved in and suggested better terms than we had expected.

After the meeting I congratulated our chairman on his tactics and asked how he had managed to remain so cool. He replied that he simply couldn’t think of anything to say.

A lesson for Mrs May? Bruce Denness Whitwell, Isle of Wight