Standing up to the EU

sir – We support the Government in its firm stance against the unrealistic and vindictive demands of the European Union in the Brexit trade negotiations.

The EU wants zero-tariff trade in goods where it has a huge surplus in trade with the UK, but offers little in return on services where it has a deficit. Its demands – that the UK observe EU rules on state aid and that there be a regulatory playing field – go well beyond what it has agreed with other nations, and it insists that its own courts act as judge and jury in disputes. It also refuses to recognise the UK’S product-certification processes, which have been acceptable for decades, but it does accept Canada’s.

Although trade agreements do not usually give access to partners’ natural resources, the EU seeks a large share of the UK’S fish. Demands that EU officials monitor trade into Northern Ireland should be resisted.

Parts of the business community are rightly concerned about barriers to trade and about customs delays, and it would be better if an amicable agreement could be signed. However, the EU is not in the mood for mutually beneficial co-operation. Unless it has a last-minute change of heart, we should conclude that the gains from free trade in goods are not large enough to merit the UK acceding to these onerous terms. Baroness Deech (Crossbench)

Sir Richard Aikens

Sir Richard Dearlove

Sir Peter Marshall

Sir Andrew Wood Professor David Betz Professor Robert Tombs and 22 others; see telegraph.co.uk