MPS’ Brexit blinkers

SIR – This week’s parliamentary debates have entertained the delusion that Britain has a choice among different sorts of “close relationships” with the EU.

The probability is that we shall have to accept or reject the one and only deal the EU is prepared to give us. This is obvious from the negotiations so far. It is even more likely now that a majority in Parliament will settle for any deal rather than “crash out” with no deal. We may expect the only deal available to be a bad deal.

Many outside Westminster see this. But MPS are so entangled in their own labyrinthine manoeuvrings, and party divisions irrelevant to this issue, that they fail to see how little these matter in Brussels. A disastrous outcome will be the fault of the Government and most of our elected representatives. Professor Richard Bauckham

Cambridge

SIR – Allister Heath’s article “Liberal democracy is dying...” (Comment, June 14) is chilling. The trend is epitomised by Kenneth Clarke’s description of the result of the referendum as “the tyranny of the majority”. Rosemary Mcdougall

Pathhead, Midlothian

SIR – The parliamentary Conservative Party is losing all credibility with the grass roots.

To keep in office a Prime Minister who was a Remainer, a weak Home Secretary, and about as improbable a choice as could be found to engage the support of the President of the United States, is plain stupid. Theresa May has no vision, little understanding of the real world and is not obviously a Conservative. She must be replaced. Esmond Bulmer

MP, Kidderminster, 1974-1987 Bruton, Somerset

SIR – In the clamour to create a new post-brexit immigration system, the interests of the catering sector mustn’t be overlooked (report June 14).

Takeaways generate £4.5 billion and support 231,000 jobs. With almost a quarter unable to recruit the staff they need, the Government should address the ludicrous anomaly in the Shortage Occupation List, which allows for the recruitment of specialist chefs for restaurants, but bizarrely not for those working in takeaways. Ibrahim Dogus

Chair, British Takeaway Campaign London SE1