Remember that the EU is anti-democratic, protectionist and political
SIR – If the European Union was about free trade, the negotiations would be relatively straightforward. But it is not. The reason so many of us who in 1975 campaigned to remain, voted last year to leave is that it is an anti-democratic, protectionist, relentlessly political project, encroaching ever further into our lives.
Can we all keep that in mind as the negotiations unfold? Charles Wide
Glapthorn, Northamptonshire
SIR – At last, Philip Hammond, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has agreed with the Brexit referendum result, saying “because we are leaving the EU, we will be leaving the single market and by the way, we will be leaving the customs union”. B G Strand
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
SIR – If the British officials went by road to Brussels for the negotiations on Brexit, they will have passed EU lorries travelling the opposite way, laden with goods for the British market. They must consider how much they will ask the EU to pay for continued access to our market. Martin Freeman
Manchester
SIR – I feel sorry for the Conservative Government. Commentators and Labour politicians keep telling us that, after the EU referendum and the election, “We are in a mess.” They lay the blame at the Government’s door.
Yet the advice of the Conservative Government had been to remain in the EU. This advice was rejected by a majority of the voting public.
At the election, Theresa May said she needed a clear mandate to strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations. This advice, too, was rejected by the voting public.
The nation twice rejected good advice. If we are in a mess, whose fault is it? Eldon Sandys
Pyrford, Surrey
SIR – In your leader on Brexit (June 19), you declared: “It is the Conservatives who have done more than any party to make this day a reality.”
That is wrong. It is Ukip alone and unaided who have achieved this. To this day, there are treacherous elements at the highest levels in the Conservative Party who still seek to undermine the process in pursuit of their federal ambitions. John Towle
Brampton, Cumberland
SIR – It is wrong to repeat the canard that Vote Leave promised to spend £350million on the NHS (report, June 19).
Not being a political party, but a pressure group, Vote Leave was in no position to promise anything.
Its leaflets stated: “The EU costs us £350million per week – we could spend that on the NHS instead” – as indeed we could. That is not the same as a promise. Andrew Mcclure
Lytchett Matravers, Dorset