YP Letters: We have lost influence with Brexit vote, not increased it

Brexiteer Boris Johnson is the new Foreign Secretary.

I AM astonished that Brexiteers are still writing, flaunting prejudices, including that the EU is “ an empire”. The colonies had no vote; there was no parliament with elected representatives from India, Pakistan, Nigeria , Jamaica etc.

Negotiations have not started. Surely our responsibility now is to wait and see? For myself, the statement from Ford that production may move to mainland Europe is exactly the kind of impact we Remainers dreaded. I hope I was wrong.

Did we control Ford? Have we organised the fall in value of the pound? Will healthcare in Europe be like it is now when we are on holiday in three years time? We have lost influence, not gained it.

Will we control immigration and how? Theresa May wants no change in the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Anyone who cannot get here legally, eg to fill gaps in NHS, can fly Ryanair from Poland, Portugal or Germany to Dublin. Cheaper than being smuggled.

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

WHAT a pity that Jean Claude Junker and Michael Barnier are to be the EU negotiating team for Brexit. Both are well known to be hostile to the UK. Surely Theresa May will try to negotiate directly with the EU Council instead of the Commission.

The 27 Presidents are more likely to offer terms for trade that benefit their own countries rather than disengaged Commissioners who are more interested in their own egos.

From: John Fisher, Menwith Hill, Harrogate.

ANY need for a second referendum has been dismissed by the Prime Minister as she plays a blinder by putting the Leave campaigners responsible for negotiating ‘mission impossible’. This is delivering their promises of leaving the EU but retaining all the advantages of remaining a member of the EU.

From: Peter Hyde, Driffield.

I FAIL to see the need for a protracted negotiation to enable us to exit the EU. It seems to me it is a scam to keep us in the EU whilst appearing to leave. It is simple; we stop paying into the EU and we arrange whatever trade deals with whoever we wish.

The EU stops interfering with our laws and stops insisting on freedom of movement. We pay too much into the system and lose freedom of government in return. Get your finger out Theresa, and get us out asap.