Delaying our departure from the EU will play into Remainers’ hands

SIR – The people who voted for Britain to leave the EU have been betrayed by the Prime Minister’s speech in Florence.

The delay until 2021 merely creates more opportunities for Remainers to cause as much mischief as they can. Tony Blair, Michael Heseltine, Alastair Campbell and all the others will carry on doing their best to prevent Brexit.

I have always given Theresa May the benefit of the doubt. No more. She needs to go – and someone who genuinely wants to leave the EU must replace her.

As for “Brexit means Brexit” and “no deal is better than a bad deal” – what deceit. Margaret Robinson London SE9

SIR – In the UK-EU staring contest, Mrs May has blinked first. Clive Percival

Fareham, Hampshire

SIR – Genuine believers in Brexit searching for the real meaning buried in Mrs May’s speech need only reflect on the fact that Ken Clarke found it “reassuring”. Terry Smith London NW11

SIR – John Snowden (Letters, September 17) asks, in the context of Brexit, what is an acceptable shelf-life for a referendum result. He suggests that a new generation of voters should be allowed to express their views on whether they wish to live in the “promised land”.

Three points arise. First, the logical conclusion of his argument is that we should keep on having referendums – which would be unworkable.

Secondly, as things currently stand, voters have an opportunity to voice their views by voting in general elections every five years.

Thirdly, if someone finds living in this county unacceptable, and would prefer to live in an EU member state, they are perfectly free to do so. Richard Symington London SW17

SIR – I would like Mr Snowden to explain what the EU would have looked like 10 years from now – and what Britain’s place within it would have been – had we voted to remain.

The truth is that, if the vote had gone the other way, it would still have been a poorly informed decision, in the sense in which Mr Snowden uses that expression.

The only certainty that existed at the time of the referendum was that leaving the EU would restore our sovereignty, while remaining would not. That was the decisive factor for me and, I’m sure, for many other voters – and something that the passage of 10 years will not change. Tony Morgan

Taunton, Somerset

SIR – The shelf-life of a referendum result?

Experience would show it to be about 40 years. Justice Hawkins

Nottingham