YP Letters: Real fight to be free of EU has just begun

From: Gordon Lawrence, Stumperlowe View, Sheffield.
EU Commission supremo Jean-Claude Juncker. When should Britain trigger Article 50?EU Commission supremo Jean-Claude Juncker. When should Britain trigger Article 50?
EU Commission supremo Jean-Claude Juncker. When should Britain trigger Article 50?

THE EU, in all its institutional might, is going to make it as difficult and as intolerable as possible for the UK to engineer Brexit.

Completion of the process will be the equivalent of a couple of wheels threatening to fall off the EU’s chassis.

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The organisation knows it cannot afford to allow Britain to be seen to flourish outside its control in complete independence, or the disintegration of the whole edifice could very well begin.

Greece and a majority of the Mediterranean countries, including the heavyweight, Italy, are already restive as the euro eats away at their ability to compete and onerous bank debt endangers their solvency.

The massive immigration issue is, if anything, an even greater problem and is insoluble as long as the principle of the free movement of people is adhered to. That principle however is sacrosanct – an integral part of the EU founding fathers’ determination to liquidate borders and ultimately dissolve nationality. To modify it could, in their eyes, torpedo the entire progress towards the ultimate aim of a federated Europe.

But why in the first place did we elect to join a club that always intended to remodel itself to our democratic detriment and whose rules of withdrawal remind me of a fly trying to escape a spider’s web?

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It was, in my view, a trade-off between narrow economic gain over-riding the legacy of our constitutional history. Now, it will take a superhuman effort to satisfactorily disentangle ourselves from this onerous net. Let’s hope Theresa May’s negotiators are up to it.

From: Arthur Quarmby, Underhill, Holme.

THE fallout from the Brexit vote is beginning to become more clear – and confirms how much easier it is to step into a trap than to get yourself out of it. On entry the EU bureaucracy was welcoming and smoothed our path – but not now of course. Any and all obstructions will be placed in our path.

However we must persevere; we fought two world wars in order not to become part of the German Empire of Europe. It is going to be long and difficult, but the continuing complaints of the Remainers should be ignored.

From: Frank Bond, Fenwick, Doncaster.

CAN I respond to the continuing scaremongering by the Remainers, this time Richard Reed (The Yorkshire Post, September 16)?

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Firstly the UK Government did not take the decision to leave. The people did, albeit that the Government arranged the referendum.

Finally, it was 37.44 per cent who voted to leave, therefore 62.56 per cent didn’t vote to leave. He didn’t mention that only 34.71 per cent voted to remain, that’s 65.29 per cent who didn’t vote to remain!

From: Barrie Crowther, Walton, Wakefield.

I DISAGREE entirely with Richard Reed on the consequence of voting ‘out’ at the referendum. In 1975 we voted to join a trading bloc, not some top-heavy organisation interfering in all our lives.

Immigration on the scale we are witnessing cannot be good for this country, clogging up every public service from hospitals to housing.

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The sooner Article 50 is triggered, the better. Let’s get on with it, get out, keep our own money, make our own laws and trade deals. What’s to fear? We have done it before and can do it again. You lost the vote Mr Reed, please no more sour grapes.

From: Thomas W Jefferson, Batty Lane, Howden, Goole.

I’M not sure why Richard Reed feels the need to rehearse the arguments put forward by the “Remain” side in the referendum. They were fully aired during the campaign and rejected by the majority.

Some facts need repeating. The referendum was authorised by an Act of Parliament supported by all the main parties, except the Scottish Nationalists.

The campaign, although of poor quality, and the vote, were properly conducted.

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The Conservatives’ manifesto in the General Election of 2015 said they would implement the wishes of the people as expressed in the referendum.

Theresa May has the right to use the Royal Prerogative to activate Article 50 serving our notice to quit. Any doubts on that score will be tested in a court case next month. If that right is not upheld, there could be a constitutional crisis.

Once our notice is served, we do not have the right to revoke it. Any change of heart would require a new application for membership which would need to be accepted by all the other 27 members and would no doubt require full compliance with all treaties, with no opt-outs, including a commitment to join the euro.

Surely no-one wants that?

From: Mrs W Abbott, Hull.

IT comes as no surprise to learn that there will be no serious talks over Brexit until the end of next year.

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Senior EU officials have long been in denial over Britain’s withdrawal. Theresa May faces a complex challenge, but it is surmountable. Mrs May should therefore make Brexit a priority and implement proceedings without further delay.

From: Alex Jones, Shipley.

I AM pleased and proud to see the welcome that Bradford has given to the two young refugee children found on the M606. This stands in stark contrast to the UK government’s response to the refugee crisis.

Britain has a proud history of welcoming refugees, but the Government’s current response does not match the scale of the crisis.

There are currently hundreds of children like these trapped in Calais. They have family in the UK and should be reunited with them. There are thousands more stuck in camps in Greece with little hope.

We should strive to host at least double the number of refugees that the Government has currently pledged.