The Brexit that Boris Johnson sold is dead, so we must back Theresa May’s plans instead
SIR – I don’t like the Prime Minister’s Chequers plan but Boris Johnson’s criticism of it in your columns on Monday only serves to highlight the Brexit quandary.
We were repeatedly told, before and after the EU referendum, that we could get both Brexit and a favourable trade deal with the EU. The two were inextricably connected; and we were told that the EU would fall over itself in giving us a favourable deal.
Mr Johnson’s article pursues the same idea: Brexit and “a big and generous Free Trade Deal”. It is obvious that the failure to achieve that – while he was in government – was not for lack of trying but because the Government kept falling over its own, self-imposed, red lines.
The Brexit that Mr Johnson and others (like David Davis) sold to the British public is dead. We have to recognise that and move on. The scandal is to seek to undermine the Prime Minister by pursuing unrealisable fantasies.
KPE Lasok QC
London N7
SIR – We watch in amazement as the Government and, it seems, almost every MP, fight like rats in a sack over their latest weird half-out, half-in Brexit plans. It may be theatre but it sure isn’t doing the country any good.
Or their already low reputations.
In 2015 Parliament gave us, the people, the right to decide our relationship with the EU. We chose Leave, not some form of deep and special Remain.
It is the duty of MPS to take us out of the EU. Failure to do so puts their own parties and even representative democracy in jeopardy.
Nick Martinek
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
SIR – Boris Johnson is right to say that the scandal of the Brexit negotiations is that the Government has not tried. However, it is equally scandalous that Leavers have allowed Remainers to set the agenda for debate.
This week, Sir Lynton Crosby is assisting Change Britain. Last week, Leave Means Leave relaunched its campaign. That’s great, but I receive emails and pleas for funding from six or seven Leave groups. How much more effective if they pooled their funds and their expertise.
Similarly, the top Brexiteer politicians each seem to have their own agenda, all eyeing the top job. If egos and ambitions are allowed to thwart the ultimate prize of freedom from the EU, the voters will be merciless.
Alan Rogers
Epsom, Surrey
SIR – Boris Johnson announces that the Government will get diddly-squat from Brexit. Well do something about it, man. And quickly.
Or is Mr Johnson all talk and no action like the rest of them?
Sue Ajax Lewis
Walberton, West Sussex
SIR – The Prime Minister’s article (Comment, September 2) was full of assertions of what the Chequers proposals will deliver. She maintains she will not accept compromises on the proposals not in the nation’s interests.
In July I read the memorandum by Martin Howe QC on the Chequers proposals. He concluded that they would lead to a “worst-of-all-worlds ‘black hole Brexit’” leaving the UK a “vassal state in the EU’S legal and regulatory tarpit”.
It would seem from the QC’S legal analysis that the nation’s interest are already materially compromised, if the proposals are accepted by the EU.
Richard Hayes
Banstead, Surrey
SIR – Theresa May was quoted as saying that the Brexit deal would be what was best for the UK “in her opinion”. According to “her opinion” Britain would be better off in the European Union. What chance is there
for the future of the country?
Peter Yarnall
Milnrow, Lancashire
SIR – The scandal of Brexit is not that we have failed. The scandal is that a leader was elected by the Conservative Party who had no intention of succeeding.
Shame on the party. This leaves me with the dilemma of who I should vote for in the next general election.
Geoffrey Robinson
Newport, Monmouthshire
SIR – Is Boris Johnson’s idea to split the Conservatives in two very unequal halves: Mr Johnson’s 20 MPS and Mrs May’s considerable number more? What folly!
Bill Sims
Gillingham, Dorset
SIR – Boris Johnson will do well in learning from his hero Winston Churchill. In 1940, Churchill was the First Lord of the Admiralty, responsible for the unsuccessful Norway expedition. In the Commons debate on Norway, he managed skilfully to appear to be accepting responsibility while precipitating the rapid resignation of the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain.
Horatio Cheng
Bebington, Wirral