Folly of continuing to pursue Theresa May’s ‘middle ground’ on Brexit
SIR – To judge by Theresa May’s parting speech this week (report, July 18), she still does not understand how our parliamentary system of majority voting works.
If an MP wins his seat by one vote, he still pursues his own government’s policies; he is not obliged to assuage the feelings of his opponent’s supporters. As Ursula von der Leyen, the new president of the European Commission, said, “a majority is a majority” – even if it is small.
Mrs May has wasted three years by effectively trying to ignore the majority vote for Brexit, and by trying to pursue the “middle ground” in her misplaced consideration for Remainers. Her brief under the existing system was simply to leave the EU – with or without a deal. Joy Starritt
London SW20
SIR – A fundamental part of democracy is that there will always be losers. To fail to accept that is to reject democracy itself. Can the Chancellor, Phillip Hammond (“Hammond stirs up trouble for Boris in Brexit parting shot”, report, July 19), and his Remain-backing rebels really want to dismantle a form of government that has proved itself over centuries? Peter Styles
Oxford
SIR – Philip Hammond is in an invidious position. If his predictions of doom following a no-deal Brexit prove to be false, he will be shown to be devoid of judgment. If they turn out to be correct, he will be damned as the negligent Chancellor who failed to make proper contingency plans.
His place in history is assured. David Pusinelli
Thatcham, Berkshire
SIR – If Britain leaves the EU without a transition period to give time for the negotiation of a comprehensive freetrade agreement, it will be because the EU does not want such a relationship and prefers to make a political point, regardless of the financial interests of its populations. In those circumstances many former Remain voters will at last realise that our long-term future is as an independent self-governing nation. John Sharp
Great Glen, Leicestershire
SIR – Boris Johnson will be elected and confirmed as prime minister.
He will demand allegiance to his pledge to leave the EU by October 31, and it will not be given by some in his party. He will have to call a general election and will form an electoral pact with the Brexit Party, under which the rebel Tories who have resigned the whip or had it withdrawn will need to fight the next election as independents.
Many of the Northern constituencies will be free for the Brexit Party to contend without Tory intervention. The election will become a direct confrontation between Leave with Mr Johnson and the Brexit Party, and Remain under Jeremy Corbyn.
Bring it on. Nicholas Hawker
Cople, Bedfordshire