The Conservatives will be destroyed if they vote for Mrs May’s bad deal
SIR – Robert Halfon MP (Commentary, February 28) says that he will support Theresa May’s deal despite its imperfections. He precisely demonstrates why the Conservatives will not destroy Labour, as Allister Heath’s column yesterday suggested.
Mrs May’s deal is so bad that it locks us forever into the EU with no say on its decision-making in so many areas (taxation, financial regulation, foreign policy, tariffs, defence, security). How any of our MPS can support this and then proclaim they are being democratic is mind-boggling.
The Conservatives will be destroyed long before they can turn their guns on Labour unless there is reconnection of the Parliamentary Conservative Party, the leadership, the members and the voters. Philip J Honey
Lound, Nottinghamshire
SIR – Brexit may be seen as a series of battles in a war of attrition between the people and a powerful Establishment (the EU, a Remaindominated Parliament, the vested interests of large corporates and a hostile media).
The first battle was a decade-long fight for a referendum and the second, a three-month campaign, in which the pro-remain establishment deployed fear, threats and disreputable propaganda. The Establishment was twice defeated.
The third battle, the forthcoming meaningful vote, will determine whether Britain leaves the EU on March 29. The Establishment’s best chance of victory now is delaying Article 50.
Eurosceptic critics of the abhorrent Withdrawal Bill must execute a tactical retreat, vote for it on March 12 and regroup on March 30 to ensure they win the significant battles ahead in this protracted war.
Michael Gove (the person most likely to succeed Mrs May and pivotal to future battles) stated candidly last December: “Leavers must not make the best the enemy of the good.” Philip Duly
Haslemere, Surrey
SIR – I have read with interest the growing anger in letters from readers over Parliament’s attempts to undermine Brexit. This mirrors conversations with my friends who voted to leave.
Conservative MPS seem to have forgotten why David Cameron promised a referendum – to meet the real risk of losing thousands of votes to Ukip. If these MPS continue to allow the extremist Remain wing of the party to undermine Brexit, they may lose huge swathes of supporters at the next election to Nigel Farage’s new party.
The time is fast approaching when MPS who support the Withdrawal Act’s pledge to leave (on WTO terms in the event of the UK being unable to cut a deal with the EU) need to take decisive action. Failure to do so could adversely affect them, as well as Remain MPS, at the next election. Charlie Goodall
Winchester, Hampshire
SIR – Trust is the vital thread that holds society together. Betray that trust and the severed relationship may never recover.
MPS have thrice promised to respect the electorate’s vote to leave the EU on March 29. Collectively they have voted for it in Parliament. Due to many of our representatives’ lack of integrity, this promise looks likely to be broken.
Leaving without a deal may bring short-term problems but not doing so could have far more serious unintended consequences. Diana Bladon
Poundbury, Dorset
SIR – It now looks likely that this game of Brexit will go into extra time.
Let’s just pray it doesn’t end up with a penalty shootout. Benjamin Davies
Oxshott, Surrey