Advocates of the single market ignore the EU’s more sinister designs
SIR – Christopher Booker (Review, April 9) wilfully forgets that the EU is no mere trading treaty, but a project to abolish the nation state.
Just as Mr Booker rejects the scientific consensus that anthropogenic global warming is a demonstrable fact, he ignores the historical reality of Lord Acton’s dictum that “absolute power corrupts absolutely”. No EU propaganda passes the late Tony Benn’s simple test for democratic accountability: what do we do if we wish to get rid of you?
Gaining access to the single market, while regaining immigration controls, can probably be achieved by some sort of payment. Money talks louder than ideology. The EU needs our market.
Chris Jones Croydon, Surrey
SIR – One cannot but agree with Mr Booker on his analysis of groupthink and its recent appearance in several fields, such as climate change.
However, it is not true that such tendencies are prevalent among those involved in implementing Brexit. The groupthink organisations Mr Booker writes of are not prepared to employ sound economics. They do not listen to independent advisers offering contrary advice and are unable to see outside their irrational beliefs.
Brexit planners, by contrast, have sound minds. They also have a wide horizon, in that they see the global market as paramount, and the EU market as a challenge to be overcome.
A T Brookes Charlwood, Surrey
SIR – An anxious Robert Barton (Letters, April 9) says Brexit will bounce us out of the World Trade Organisation, and that obstacles to our readmittance are likely.
During the referendum campaign, the BBC put those fears to Lord Lawson, the former Chancellor, who dismissed them thus: “I think that’s not true at all. First of all, our trade relations with the rest of the world remain totally unchanged because the European Union did not negotiate as the European Union. It’s not allowed to – it’s not a member of the WTO. It negotiated on behalf of the individual member states. So all our arrangements with the rest of the world remain totally unchanged.”
Martin Burgess Beckenham, Kent
SIR – I own a bed and breakfast, and have been asking guests their thoughts on Brexit.
Guests come from all over Britain and split their votes in the referendum 50:50. Those who voted Leave are happy with their decision.
However, half of those who voted Remain only did so because they were persuaded by Project Fear, despite being at heart sceptical about the EU. They feel they were hoodwinked.
My analysis therefore suggests that 75 per cent of the electorate were Leavers, and that is why there is such overwhelming support for the Government’s stance.
George Bristow Bembridge, Isle of Wight