Play the game

I understand Fin lay Macintosh’s frustration at Europe (Letters ,25 October) but we must be careful of being drawn into “my country right or wrong” thinking. Philip Hammond was correct to withdraw his inflammatory statement that Europe’s negotiators are the enemy.

The European view on this is that the countries concerned are in a club ( the EEC) which has rules. If the UK thinks it can be in the club without keeping to the rules, it risks rejection. For if one country can neglect the collectivist rules, because it believe sin

economic nationalism, others will do so too.

The government was asked to analyse what it owed Europe, and bring that assessment to the negotiations. Instead of that, we have given advice to the negotiators that they need to take up whistling. And now our leading industries are warning the government that a clear plan is needed by the end of the year.

Every moment of foolishness and brinksmanship by Boris Johnson and Co increases the threat of crisis. David Davis’ statement awhile ago, that this is more difficult than the moon landings, was something of which voters were not advised during the referendum, so it’s no wonder opinion polls show the public beginning to lose faith in our Brexiteers. But many still believe the Brexiteers when they said leaving would be easy. It follows that if it’s not easy, that’s because Europe is not playing fair. Yes I understand the logic. It’s called “confirmation bias’.

ANDREW VASS Corbiehill Place, Edinburgh