Nothing can be achieved by delaying Brexit again when the country is crying out for an election
sir – After three years of negotiations and three extensions, with an intransigent EU and a Parliament that will not accept the current deal with the backstop, what on earth did those MPS in charge of Commons business yesterday think would change between now and the end of January?
The EU can just sit back and twiddle its thumbs, and Britain remains in limbo for months and years to come.
The only solution is an election with a clear Conservative manifesto for leaving the EU, without relying on the Brexit Party. Brian Green
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
sir – Boris Johnson stands head and shoulders above any other conceivable candidate to lead us out of the EU. However, even if Parliament ultimately fails in its attempt to force our Prime Minister and the Government to take a step which they are unwilling to take, it is highly desirable that Mr Johnson obtain a mandate from the electorate before the meeting of the European Council on October 17. Happily, he has indicated that it is his intention to call such an election.
There is no doubt a great risk for the Conservative Party in holding a general election before Brexit has been achieved, and it seems at least doubtful that Mr Johnson could win an overall majority without the cooperation of Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party. However, Mr Farage and his supporters must surely understand that the election of Mr Johnson with an overall majority on the morning of October 16 is the very last chance of Brexit being achieved by October 31, and maybe at all.
There will be great difficulties in forcing a general election before October 31. It is, however, a scandal that a government with no majority and no power to rule can be denied the right to call a general election. Stephen Barstow
Dorchester-on-thames, Oxfordshire
sir – MPS are at loggerheads, with no majority for any lucid plan on the way forward for Brexit. Prolonging the issue will promote more confusion and acrimony. This can’t go on.
With more than half of MPS presumably fighting to stay in the EU, while more than half of the public wishes to leave, a general election might be the only way out. Carolyn Macdougall
Berwick St James, Wiltshire
sir – Valediction, vassalage or Venezuela? Keith Harrison
Morpeth, Northumberland
sir – The people want to leave the EU. The parliamentarians want to stay in. Which form of “democracy” will win? Dr Peter I Vardy
Runcorn, Cheshire
sir – There were plenty of voices in the Commons on Tuesday evening. But where was mine? Joan Manning
Watford, Hertfordshire
sir – I have long suspected that when, on November 29 1994, John Major withdrew the party whip from myself and seven other Conservative MPS for having the temerity to abstain on a three-line whipped vote to send yet more taxpayers’ cash to Brussels, his Chancellor of the Exchequer, one Ken Clarke, would have been a leading proponent of that disciplinary action.
The sheer hypocrisy of former Cabinet ministers – who, having actually voted against their own Government, expect less severe punishment – simply beggars belief. Christopher Gill
MP Ludlow (Con), 1987-2001 Bridgnorth, Shropshire sir – Watching the Commons spectacle on Tuesday night I was sickened to see Theresa May giggling with her neighbour, Ken Clarke. It confirmed our suspicions – that she was always a Europhile Remainer. No wonder the past three years have been such a mess. Sue Milne
Northampton
sir – I cannot find words to express how depressing I find the undemocratic shenanigans currently being engaged in by Remainers and the self-serving MPS who seek to keep us in the EU. They should be ashamed of themselves. Pamela Wheeler
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
sir – John Bercow, the Speaker, will doubtless be congratulating himself on a good day’s work. However, by ignoring the conventions of the House and allowing Parliament to take control of the parliamentary timetable, he has undermined the role of Cabinet government and produced a recipe for future parliamentary paralysis, to say nothing of making Parliament a laughing stock. Andrew Norman
Poole, Dorset
sir – As I write this, my husband and I are listening to Bernard Haitink conducting probably his last concert in this country, at the Proms, before he retires at the age of 90. He gives a wonderful, wise interview in the interval – a summary of a fine and cosmopolitan career, as befits a great conductor. Our listening is tinged with sadness.
We voted to Remain, mindful of a great European heritage. Now we both back Boris Johnson in his brave endeavours to carry out the democratic mandate, but with huge regret, in common with many other Remainers and I’m sure not a few Leavers. Perhaps it is the British fate always to be ambivalent in regard to Europe.
Maybe one day we will return, if we do indeed leave, which we should. Marian Waters
Pebworth, Warwickshire
sir – Apparently there is no mandate for a damaging and disruptive Brexit. Where is the mandate to remain? Simon Mcilroy
Croydon, Surrey
sir – We now have proof that the manifestos on which MPS were elected are worthless. Parliament and the constitution are utterly discredited. W W Sweet
Carnforth, Lancashire
sir – Although disagreeing with the late Tony Benn on many things, I do find his five questions apposite, in view of MPS choosing to ignore the results of the referendum they called for and authorised.
“What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?” David Booth
Latheron, Caithness
sir – If there is to be a general election, is there any point in voting? It has become apparent that MPS consider that they know what the country wants far better than we do. Andrew W Knight
Cleator, Cumbria
sir – When rebel MPS say they will not let us leave without a deal, what do they mean? A trade deal? The EU has always said that we cannot negotiate a trade deal until we have left.
A withdrawal agreement? But MPS have consistently rejected Theresa May’s deal. A different withdrawal agreement? But don’t they have to agree first on what that might be? Cynthia Harrod-eagles
Northwood, Middlesex
sir – The move to abandon a no-deal exit is more restrictive than it seems: it means the EU has no incentive to negotiate, as the UK is left with the deal voted down by Parliament three times. The alternative is withdrawing Article 50.
EU negotiators can sit on their hands as the October deadline rolls by. We will be committed to Mrs May’s Withdrawal Agreement, or to remain, when they offer no more extensions. Anthony Cutler
Malvern, Worcestershire
sir – It is incredible that prominent members of the party that likes to portray itself as the party of business consider it beneficial to perpetuate Brexit paralysis for at least a further five months when we were looking forward to final relief in less than two.
I suspect that these MPS will never be happy to leave, but why are they so keen to stay in the EU? What is so wonderful about it that justifies sacrificing our freedom as a country for one moment longer? Alastair Macmillan
Managing Director, White House Products
Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire
sir – The vote in the Commons to introduce the Bill to take no-deal off the table was: Ayes 52 per cent; Noes 48 per cent. So, using Remainer logic, the Government can keep no-deal on the table. Mark Dommett
Devizes, Wiltshire
sir – No British government should ever use the referendum option again. It has proved to be democracy’s Achilles’ heel. Parliament should never abrogate its responsibility. Terry Scott
Cleadon, Co Durham
sir – Phillip Lee, the MP for Bracknell, leaves the Conservatives and joins the Lib Dems, thumbing his nose at nearly 33,000 people who voted for him. Small wonder; he and hundreds of his colleagues have been sticking their fingers up at more than 17.4 million people for the past three years. Bernard Smalley
Bristol
sir – When will we have a law passed to trigger a by-election as soon as an MP switches parties? Voters are being left disfranchised by disloyal representatives. John Gallagher
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
sir – I am unconcerned how the Brexit saga resolves itself, but what appals me is the hostility it is causing among previously rational people.
Parliament and the constituent countries of the United Kingdom are at loggerheads and insults are thrown around willy-nilly. It used to be normal for people with differing opinions to discuss them in a civilised manner.
Whatever the outcome of Brexit, I fear that recriminations will continue for a long time, with serious consequences for our society. John Catchpole
Beverley, East Yorkshire
sir – How can we trust the judgment of elected MPS on both sides of the chamber when, as we can see on television, most play on their mobiles during proceedings in the Commons? Diana Robertson
Romsey, Hampshire
sir – All I can say is, thank goodness for the Ashes. Janet Fisher
Holsworthy, Devon