Stick to the deal in Parliament’s game of pontoon or risk losing all
sir – I urge all Brexit supporters, Nigel Farage included, and those MPS with a vestigial sense of democratic honour to back the Prime Minister’s deal. The bulk of its opponents are set on reversing Brexit entirely, by any means possible, and are not remotely interested in getting a “better deal”.
The agendas of the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and the Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, have nothing to do with Brexit but are all about their political ambitions elsewhere.
As in the game pontoon, Brexiteers need to recognise it is time to stick; if they keep twisting for a perfect score, they risk going bust and losing all.
Victor Launert
Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
sir – Today MPS have the opportunity to demonstrate their belief in the democratic rights of the British people by voting through the Brexit deal agreed by the EU and the UK negotiating teams. This opportunity exists, but the odds remain in favour of their rejecting this hard-won agreement.
Through a bitter, divisive and unhappy period for this nation, what many in Parliament have also shown is that they entered politics firmly of the opinion that they know what is best for the ill-educated masses who put them there, and that referendums only count when the great unwashed vote in the correct way.
Michael R Gordon
Bewdley, Worcestershire
sir – After 40 years of voting in elections in a Labour stronghold where my vote counted for nothing, on June 23 2016 I finally cast a vote that meant something.
Today, October 19 2019, my vote and 17.4 million others may be ignored. Is this democracy?
Peter Shields
Hawarden, Flintshire
sir – We can only hope that a few of the Labour MPS who supported the Leave vote will now support the deal that Boris Johnson has managed to achieve. He deserves enormous credit for his efforts and the public want no more delays. If Jeremy Corbyn imposes one, his party will be dead in the water.
Martin Greenwood
Fringford, Oxfordshire
sir – A few weeks ago, Rory Stewart proclaimed on Newsnight that if Boris Johnson secured a new deal with the EU, he would go down on his knees before him and apologise. I’m sure the Prime Minister would not to wish him to do such a thing. It will be enough for Mr Stewart, and others like him, to be loud and clear in their entreaties to friends in opposition parties to do the decent thing now, abide by their general election manifesto promises, and vote for the deal.
Tim Coles
Carlton, Bedfordshire
sir – As a Conservative Party foot soldier who has long helped Tory candidates to be elected, irrespective of their views on the EU, I expect every MP elected as a Conservative in 2017 and sitting on the Government benches to vote for the Withdrawal Agreement, to enable the party to honour its manifesto pledge to leave the EU.
I also hope that the Prime Minister will burnish his One Nation credentials by offering to restore the whip to any MPS wishing to return to the Tory fold, with a commitment to help persuade local associations to readopt them as party candidates at the next election. Conservatives must clutch the expedient of compromise for the opportunity to win their largest Commons majority since 1987.
Philip Duly
Haslemere, Surrey
sir – I don’t need to read through the details of Boris Johnson’s new deal. Sir Keir Starmer (shadow Brexit secretary) hates it. That’s good enough for me.
Eve Wilson
Hill Head, Hampshire
sir – If all the Labour MPS of Leave-voting constituencies supported the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal, there would be too many for Jeremy Corbyn to sack. It would also spell the end of Mr Corbyn’s leadership. A more moderate leader could be voted in, giving the country the chance of a worthy opposition.
Simon Olley
Kemsing, Kent
sir – I am the employer of 45 staff in the manufacturing industry, and we all know how important it is for our livelihoods for this Withdrawal Agreement to succeed. Our business is one of tens of thousands in the UK. I appeal for all MPS to protect our future by voting for this deal.
Anthony James
Managing Director, Sterling GP Stokesley, North Yorkshire
sir – Valerie Crews (Letters, October 18) uses the old Remain argument that “leaving the world’s largest trading bloc” means “standing alone”. This ignores how trade works and sidelines the fact that Brexit is not solely about trade. Brexit is also about giving the people back their sovereign right to have a say about how and by whom they are ruled. Nor does the EU allow us the advantages of being a low-tax, low-regulation economy.
David Taylor
Lymington, Hampshire
sir – I am struggling to understand the Democratic Unionist Party’s stance.
Northern Ireland stays within the United Kingdom, gaining from all our free-trade deals; its people also get to have an open border with the EU and all the benefits of the EU, with a right to vote to opt out. Surely this is having your cake with both jam and cream on it.
E J Hale
Admington, Warwickshire
sir – We should not be held to ransom by DUP politicians who can’t even agree on how to form a government, leaving Stormont unoccupied for two years. They might put their differences to one side in order to monitor the new deal with the EU, which they say will destroy Northern Ireland. Aren’t they doing that themselves?
Gail Midworth Dodds
Lindfield, West Sussex
sir – John Bosworth (Letters, October 18) claims he cannot see Northern Ireland as British. It would make as much sense (or nonsense) for me to state that I do not recognise the Britishness of Mr Bosworth.
Fortunately, these matters are decided by law, not subjective opinion. I hope that on reflection Mr Bosworth will feel grateful for the Britishness of such Ulstermen as Field Marshals Dill, Alexander and Alanbrooke.
C D C Armstrong
Belfast
sir – Simon Shneerson (Letters, October 18) need not worry about a post-brexit shortage of things to argue about. We have Nicola Sturgeon waiting in the wings to subject us to years of political purgatory.
Lynette Johnson
Udny, Aberdeenshire
sir – Today is my 55th birthday. What better present can I get than acceptance of the Prime Minister’s deal? I will certainly partake of a warm pint of English ale if this comes to be.
Dave Shone
Leeds, West Yorkshire
sir – Two huge issues are played out today, neither of which I can influence. I will watch England play Australia.
Christopher Messer
Tunbridge Wells, Kent