Shock vote for UK to leave Europe is making EU a more democratic organisation

In the EU referendum I tactically voted Leave for the sake of the EU as a whole. I presumed that Remain would win; that was what I wanted (but with a very large minority showing their discontent through a Leave vote). I recognised that the EU was in need of much reform. I voted Leave in order to create a reform movement within an EU to which we would still belong.

Though at great cost to ourselves, with Jean-claude Juncker’s White Paper in March, we have indeed triggered an inchoate reform movement within the EU. This is a wonderful thing.

But what about us in the UK, what are we to do? 37 per cent of an unreliable electorate (I cite myself ) have voted to take 100 per cent of us out of the EU. If Sir Vincent Cable and Tony Blair are wrong, a powerful option is still open to us. We will remain in the European Economic Area and should sue for immediate re-entry to, and permanent membership of, the European Free Trade Association.

This would leave us with a firm position in a commercially integrated Europe, yet with more mercantile and political freedom than within the European Union.

There are costs involved but the bùrach we have got ourselves into can be managed and turned to the longterm advantage of Europe – from Greenland to the Urals via Brexit. It will lead to the EU becoming a more democratic union.

Our future is of necessity intertwined with that of our fellow Europeans. There is much in the EU to admire and also to change. Our bizarre referendum has started to improve the European Union already. Our place can be found in EFTA, sharing our thinking and our trade with our nearest neighbours and the rest of the world. MIKE BARTLETT

Brù, Isle of Lewis The government seems to believe that continuing our membership of the Single Market is a problem. It does not need to be.

It should state that on a given date Britain will cease to accept any imports from the Continent unless an agreement is signed before that date. A period of a fortnight or a month should be allowed between the announcement and the given date. The agreement should permit the free flow of goods as at present with no conditions or attachments.

After that, all other matters could be negotiated, although I do feel that the attitude of those on the other side of the Channel might be more respectful.

WILLIAM W SCOTT St Baldred’s Road, North Berwick