Getting behind Brexit

SIR – Charles Moore (Comment, March 3) is right about the unpleasantness of Brussels. Why would we change our mind and stay?

Equally, what sort of country do the Remainers believe we would have if a second referendum were to reverse the result of the first? Inevitably it would be a close call, with Leavers rightly exasperated over the failure of our democracy to work the first time.

How would Remainers cope with such Leaver dissent – and how could they claim victory, having failed to accept the first referendum result? Our politics would become even more unpleasant and divided.

Mrs May has set out a path to reconciliation and we need to get behind her. David Pilkington

Altrincham, Cheshire

SIR – I sense increasing fear, frustration and defensiveness among Brexiteers. The word “betrayal” is used a lot as it becomes ever more apparent that the reality of leaving the EU is not going to match the euphoric wishful thinking of 18 months ago.

Now that Mrs May’s speech has put to bed the nonsense that “no deal is better than a bad deal”, isn’t it time for Brexiteers to acknowledge the consequences of leaving? To a greater or lesser extent, Britain will be damaged by quitting the EU. The EU isn’t punishing us; this harm is self-inflicted.

Jacob Rees-mogg (Commentary, March 3) appears to have accepted that compromise will be necessary to minimise damage. If the rest of the hardline Brexiteers could follow his lead, we might come out of this mess better than currently seems possible. Jon Rollinson

Balsall Common, West Midlands