We will need the equivalent of 200 Australian trade deals to offset the damage caused by Brexit

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Boris Johnson with Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison at No 10 on Tuesday (EPA)

The broad outlines of a free-trade agreement between the UK and Australia should be viewed in context. It is the UK’s first post-Brexit trade agreement to be negotiated from scratch, and the government has long argued that the ability to strike its own deals around the world is one of the big benefits of leaving the EU.

However, on the government’s own figures, it is worth saying that the trade deal is estimated to add 0.02 per cent to UK GDP in 15 years’ time, while the government’s own estimates of leaving the EU single market will reduce UK GDP by 4 per cent over the same period.

We will need the equivalent of 200 “Australia deals” to offset the impact of leaving the largest single market in the world.

Alex Orr

Edinburgh

Out of options

In your editorial on Wednesday regarding the UK/Australian trade deal (“The trade deal with Australia will do nothing to make up for the cost of Brexit”, 16 June), you make the valid point that in the referendum on Brexit, it is probable that those voting Leave were thinking in terms of political rather than economic separation.

Had the alternatives offered on the ballot paper been more nuanced so that “Remain”, “Remain in the customs union” or “Complete separation” were options, there is a high probability that the electorate would have overwhelmingly chosen options one or two. As it was, there was only the choice of “Leave” or “Remain” and even with that choice, the majority who voted to leave was marginal.

As Boris and his motley crew often dodge criticism of their response to Covid by talking about Captain Hindsight, the worthy captain should have suggested to David Cameron and the Remainer camp to extend the options offered on the ballot paper and we would likely not be in our present position of scrapping trade deals where we can find them and risking the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Patrick Cleary

Stonehouse, Gloucestershire

Giving too much away

There we have it. Unchained, unrestrained ideologue and amateur negotiator gives Australia everything it wants. Boris puts up the “For sale, name your price” sign over England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Every other major trading nation will be laughing all the way to the bank.

Perry Gardner

Wolsingham

Trade but no climate

The environment has not been mentioned in the debate about the Australian trade talks.

We are encouraging more long-distance travel. My guess is that it is not mentioned as it is a less directly felt consequence.

Cole Davis

Norwich

An insult

Surely the home secretary has better things to do than fan the flames of division and prejudice in this country? By referring to taking the knee as “gesture politics”, Priti Patel has insulted the integrity of our footballers simply because they have chosen to demonstrate humanity and compassion.

Standing up against all forms of discrimination is not politics. This is about humanity and fundamental human rights. The home secretary should stick to her own portfolio, and perhaps consider addressing her own serious failings in relation to human rights given her previous record of bullying and aggression.

Have we learnt nothing from the indiscriminate pandemic? This country needs a home secretary that will work to unite our population. Priti Patel is clearly not fit for office.

Yasmin Ataullah

Surrey

At last, the truth

According to Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson sent him a WhatsApp message in which he described Matt Hancock as “totally f*****g hopeless”.

If so, it would be the first time since he took office that the PM has actually spoken the truth.

Sasha Simic

London