It’s time to give the EU an ultimatum on Brexit

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Thursday 31 January 2019 17:28 GMT
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Theresa May should stop kowtowing to the EU and take control of these negotiations. Be strong and proud of what we have in the UK, step up and use that intransigence and determination for a different direction. Go to the EU and state what we will accept – and if we don’t get that, walk away and go full tilt for a no deal. It will cost another load of millions, but how much has it cost already, not in just money, but with the extended squabbling and game playing in the Commons? The plight of the less able and the country have been ignored for too long.

If the EU does come back with any offers that are short of our demands, reject them until the last moment. If the last offer is acceptable, take it; if not, carry on. The country badly needs a leader not a follower.

Alan Wilson
Maidstone

Brexit trade-off

There is a solution to the Brexit conundrum and it revolves around security.

Whatever the mutual irritations, two facts remain: the UK has been a reliable security player to Europe; and our armed forces have been well respected and appreciated by people within the EU.

So why not have an agreement whereby the UK ramps up defence spending and deployments of forces to continental Europe? And in return the EU grants the UK a good Brexit agreement to include dropping the unnecessary backstop and limiting “divorce payments” and retention of Ehic card for UK citizens.

John Barstow
Pulborough

Scottish border

On Wednesday, Theresa May told Ian Blackford of the SNP that his party is the one that wants to erect a border between Scotland and England. Blackford sat and shook his head. Why? That is precisely what the SNP wants. That is what it campaigns relentlessly for – unless what it really wants is to keep all the parts of UK membership which suit it while renouncing being actually a part of the UK. I don’t see that working.

Jill Stephenson
Edinburgh

Brexit choice

For several weeks now, I have believed that the prime minister’s strategy has been to eliminate all variances of Brexit until the Commons is left with the binary choice of “no Brexit” or “no deal”.

Alan Hutchinson
Address supplied

A decision must be made on Brexit

The current impasse on Brexit is extremely disconcerting. In recent days, we have witnessed many companies, including Sony, Nomura and Dyson, making their decision to move out of Britain. Airbus and major automobile manufacturers have predicted a “catastrophe”.

When will the government stop its internal wrangling and make a decision?

Businesses perform best in an environment of stability where they are able to plan and forecast growth. The current indecision is the most unhelpful environment.

Suggesting a delay, another referendum or an election are dangerous delaying tactics which will cause even more departures.

These decisions will be hard to reverse and will lead to a weaker, poorer nation.

Deepak Mahtani
Carshalton

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