The danger of underestimating those who want to sabotage Brexit

SIR – Simon Heffer (Comment, July 9) is rightly critical of Remainers and their “preposterous” tactics, but to write them off would be premature.

Britain’s governance is notoriously secretive and dismissive of populism, while the EU is a byword for fudged decisions.

Since the referendum, the powerful vested interests of Remain have been keeping their powder dry. Once negotiations begin, Project Fear will be revived. Moreover, since a majority of MPs are Remainers, a second referendum cannot be discounted.

Should Britain reverse its previous decision by a similar margin, we would be punished pour encourager les autres. Financial contributions would increase, as would the movement of unskilled labour.

Brexit is no panacea for Britain’s problems, but remaining in the EU would seriously exacerbate them. Chris Jones

Croydon, Surrey wants to frustrate Brexit. He could have added that the CBI represents a few large companies, while the vast majority of businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Big businesses like the EU because its regulations allow large-scale tax avoidance. Open borders cause wage compression, and businesses have influence in getting EU regulations proposed that will protect them.

SMEs, on the other hand, have been held back. But their innovation and productivity will flourish once the weight of EU rules has been lifted.

The CBI was, of course, among those who urged us to join the Eurozone to survive. They were wrong then and they are wrong now. Roger J Arthur

Pulborough, West Sussex

SIR – A “soft Brexit” will result in vassalage.

Single market membership means accepting the EU’s policies on trade, competition, enlargement and free movement, but without having any say. It also entails an annual access fee.

Instead, let’s seek a free-trade pact on manufactured goods and some services. There will be no payments and no free movement of labour. The City may not retain passport rights, but it can look after itself. A “hard Brexit” need only arise if the EU rejects a mutually beneficial deal. Yugo Kovach

Winterborne Houghton, Dorset

SIR – David Campbell Bannerman (Letters, July 9) suggests that Britain should follow Canada, whose new trade deal – the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement – provides 99 per cent access to the single market, with no access fees and no free movement.

Why not start with that idea to secure Brexit, but then expand it into a Commonwealth deal? It would be a carrot for the EU, boost international free trade and underpin the historic role of Britain and its sovereign. Roger Smith

Shefford, Bedfordshire