YP Letters: Successful Brexit is contradiction in terms for economy

This election was called because of Brexit.

IT was the English teacher in my 1950s grammar school who introduced the class to the oxymoron: a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.

I think the teacher had previously spent an unrewarding two years doing his National Service, for he provided as an example of oxymoron the phrase “military intelligence”.

A new oxymoron is now in circulation: “a successful Brexit”.

Neither Theresa May, nor Jeremy Corbyn, nor any of our politicians can make a success of Brexit. The best that they can hope to achieve is damage limitation.

The UK has been the awkward member of the EU and has been lucky over the years to have been given a series of “opt outs” and rebates that put the UK in a privileged position within the Union. We have been indulged by the other members and have been slow to recognise our luck.

At some point soon I hope that reality will dawn on the nation.

From: John Fisher, Menwith Hill.

A RECENT letter listing five questions for every MP appears to assume that Brexit will be followed through, no matter how much damage could be inflicted on the UK economy.

When all details of the final negotiations are available, I cannot imagine Theresa May personally accepting and installing a Brexit which could seriously damage the UK economy. A disastrous Brexit would appear unlikely.

From: Michael O’Sullivan, Allerton Bywater, Castleford.

AFTER watching the May/ Corbyn performances, I was totally underwhelmed. Do I trust the word of either? I do not. I am a Leave backer and have wanted out of the EU for years, but against this I worry about the NHS and what a large majority Tory regime would do to it.

From: John Harris, Ronaldshay Drive, Richmond.

THERESA May ducked out of Wednesday night’s TV debate and yet she asks the electorate to believe she will be a strong and tough Brexit negotiator. I am sure the EU team will have taken note and I hope voters will.

From: David Downs, Sandal, Wakefield.

I WATCHED the BBC’s election debate and the BBC should be hung, drawn and quartered. The audience was supposed to be an even spread of supporters. In the event, the audience consisted of 90 per cent Labour supporters.