Voters can hand Theresa May a mandate to resist EU cash demands

SIR – John Redwood says that the numerous treaties governing Britain’s membership of the EU make no reference to financial penalties in the event of our departure (Comment, April 27). It is clear, however, that many EU heads of government, including the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, support the EU Commission’s intransigent position that there can be no discussion of Britain’s future trading relationship until after the terms of exit are agreed.

Campaigning for the Conservatives in marginal Southampton over the past week, I have been deeply humbled by the number of patriotic, working-class, previously staunch Labour supporters who plan to switch their vote directly to the Tories, primarily because they trust Theresa May to “bat for Britain”.

If the Prime Minister wins a large mandate at the forthcoming election, she should immediately inform Brussels that Britain will agree to the EU’s negotiating stance on the firm understanding that no financial settlement will be paid to the EU at the point of departure or subsequently. Philip Duly Haslemere, Surrey SIR – The Treaty of Lisbon does not require us to make any payments for leaving. Article 50(2) provides that the EU shall “negotiate and conclude an agreement with [the departing member], setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union”.

We should insist that these rules are adhered to. Keith J Vaughan Great Stretton, Leicestershire SIR – Ambrose Evans-Pritchard is quite correct when he states that “if the final document presented to Britain looks anything like the EU papers circulating this week, no sovereign state can accept it” (Business, April 27).

The clearest Plan B would be to form a simple trading organisation, open to all nations and free of any political notions. I propose that this British-led initiative be called “The Common Market” Michael S McGillicuddy Liskeard, Cornwall SIR – For 15 years the EU has been going Germany’s way. At the expense of other member states, positive German GDP numbers have not been corrected as EU rules decree. Refugees have been accepted without adhering to border and asylum rules because Germany’s depopulation needs a quick fix. All EU states are equal, but one is more equal than the others. Andy Rossiter Northwich, Cheshire SIR – The commitment of Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, to British membership of the EU has to be questioned. Since taking office he has visited Germany on official business 13 times. During the same period he visited Britain once. Mark Bullen Downham Market, Norfolk