We should be embracing a Swiss-style relationship with the EU

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Addressing the CBI conference, Rishi Sunak dismissed the idea of a closer, Swiss-style arrangement with the EU (Getty)

If Nigel Farage says it’s definitely wrong to seek pragmatic solutions to the costly bureaucratic mess that Brexit continues to deliver, then clearly this should be an immediate call to action.

We should isolate the European Research Group zealots and seek a “Swiss-style” solution, as a practical step to rebuilding our relationship with our closest neighbours.

David Goult

Leeds

Addressing the CBI conference, Rishi Sunak dismissed the idea of a closer, Swiss-style arrangement with the EU and proclaimed: “Under my leadership, the United Kingdom will not pursue any relationship with Europe that relies on alignment with EU laws.”

But a part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, is permanently locked into dynamic alignment with EU laws, so when will that be sorted out?

Dr D R Cooper

Maidenhead

It’s typical of Nigel Farage to blame the failures of Brexit on its implementation, when the whole concept was flawed from the start – as experts warned.

He may have personally benefited from being educated at a leading private school, but those less privileged than himself are now suffering from his inability to comprehend the real world.

Roger Hinds

Surrey

One Love armband

It would have been unfair on individual captains to ask them and their teams to bear the consequences of protest.

A much more powerful protest which Fifa could not stop, would be for the two teams in the final to walk out wearing strips with “free oppressed women everywhere and cherish the LGBT+ community” emblazoned on their shirt fronts.

Gavin Turner

Norfolk

Conservative values

Since the Johnson purge of “one nation” Tories from the party, its claim to be “the longest serving party of government” – to which Andrew Grice alludes – should be styled “the most self-serving party of government”.

The belief that government is elected to serve the best interests of the nation has been replaced by a commitment – through the party’s infatuation with deregulation – to serve the interests of those with wealth and influence so that they are further empowered to get even richer while the little people gather scraps from their overladen tables.

To keep up to speed with all the latest opinions and comment, sign up to our free weekly Voices Dispatches newsletter by clicking here

This may be less evident since the demise of Truss, but is still the motivating force behind a party whose belief in the survival of the fittest is never hidden for long.

For immediate evidence, look no further than the prime minister’s purchase of preferential health care for himself and his family while the NHS continues to limp along as the underfunded service of the majority.

After 12 years of Conservative government, the values of collective responsibility have been stripped away to be replaced by a different set of expendable values; if you can’t swim then, sorry but, you’ll have to sink.

Graham Powell

Cirencester